Topical antiinflammatory activity of an innovative aqueous formulation of actichelated propolis vs two commercial propolis formulations

A novel aqueous commercial formulation of a new hydrophilic propolis product (Actichelated((R)) Propolis, contained in 'LeniGola PropolEffect Spray Senza Alcohol'; Pharbenia, Milan, Italy) was evaluated for its topical antiinflammatory activity in comparison with a hydroglyceric propolis spray solution ('Propoli LeniGola Spray Senza Alcool'; Pharbenia, Milan, Italy) and a hydroalcohol preparation ('Propoli LeniGola Spray Forte'; Pharbenia, Milan, Italy). Actichelated propolis (Actimex, Trieste, Italy) is a multicomposite material obtained with a patented technology, mechano-chemical activation, which application led to a new hydrosoluble form of propolis. Each propolis preparation provoked a dose-dependent inhibition of the croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice. Considering the administered doses of flavonoids, 'LeniGola PropolEffect Spray Senza Alcool' (ID(50) = 13.6 microL/cm(2), corresponding to 13.6 microg flavonoids/cm(2)) is slightly more active than the hydroglyceric formulation 'Propoli LeniGola Spray' (ID(50) = 13.7 microL/cm(2), corresponding to 20.6 microg flavonoids/cm(2)) and six times more active than the hydroalcohol preparation 'Propoli LeniGola Spray Forte' (ID(50) = 5.5 microL/cm(2), corresponding to 82.5 microg flavonoids/cm(2)). As a reference, 15 microL/cm(2) of the commercial sprays Tantum Verde and Froben, containing 37.5 or 45 microg of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs benzidamine hydrochloride or flurbiprofen, induced 18% and 35% oedema inhibition, respectively.