Anti-inflammatory activity of propolis

Propolis (bee-glue), known as a folk medicine, is a lipophilic material found in honeybee hives. In the present study on the anti-inflammatory effect of Korean propolis, it was extracted with ethanol, and used as a test material. The LD₅₀ value with the oral administration of ethanolic extract of Korean propolis (EEKP) was higher than 2 g/kg in mice. The oral administration of the propolis extract (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the development of hind paw edema induced by carrageenin in rats. The oral pretreatment of the propolis extract markedly inhibited the increase in vascular permeability and the number of writhing induced by acetic acid in mice. Propolis extract, 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o. per day for 7 days, produced a significant inhibitory effect on granuloma and exudate formation in rats. This inhibitory effect was enhanced with the concomitant use of prednisolone (2.5 mg/kg). These results suggest that Korean propolis apparently has a strong anti-inflammatory activity.