Abstract

In the present study we examined the protective effect of Brazilian propolis against hepatic oxidative damage in rats with water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS) in comparison with that of vitamin E (VE). Fasted rats orally received Brazilian green propolis ethanol extract (BPEE; 10, 50 or 100 mg/kg), VE (250 mg/kg) or vehicle at 30 min before the onset of WIRS. Exposure of vehicle-treated rats to 6 h of WIRS caused liver cell damage, judging from the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferease, increased hepatic lipid peroxide, NOx contents and myeloperoxidase activity, and decreased hepatic non-protein SH, ascorbic acid contents and superoxide dismutase activity. Preadministration of BPEE (50 or 100 mg/kg) or VE to the stressed rats protected against the hepatic damage and attenuated the increased hepatic lipid peroxide and NOx contents and myeloperoxidase activity and the decreased hepatic non-protein SH and ascorbic acid contents and superoxide dismutase activity. These protective effects of BPEE (50 mg/kg) were greater than those of BPEE (100 mg/kg) and were almost equal to those of VE. These results indicate that BPEE protects against hepatic oxidative damage in rats exposed to WIRS possibly through its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties such as VE.