In Egypt, liver diseases are one of the most prominent killers especially hepatitis virus infection, fibrosis and cirrhosis . Hepatitis has a serious health effects and alter the functions of the liver. D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced hepatitis in rats are closely resembling human viral hepatitis. Propolis is honey bee product with a wide range of beneficial therapeutic effects.
Objective: To evaluate the possible protective effect of propolis on experimentally induced hepatitis in adult male albino rats.
Materials and methods: Forty adult male rats included and divided equally into 4 groups(10 rats each). group I (control group), group II (Propolis group): The rats received daily oral dose of the propolis (200mg/Kg) by gastric tube for 2 weeks, group III (Hepatitis model group): The rats received single intraperitoneally injection of D-GalN and LPS (300 mg/kg and 30 μg/kg) 18 hours before the end of experiment, group IV (Propolis and hepatitis model group): The rats received daily oral dose of propolis for 2 weeks and D-GalN and LPS 18 hours before the end of experiment. Liver specimens were taken and processed for histological and immunohistochemical study.
Results: Group III showed signs of degeneration and necrosis as some swollen hepatocytes had finely granular cytoplasm, other hepatocytes had small hyperchromatic or karyolytic nuclei. Dilated congested, proliferation of endothelial cells of central vein were seen and its wall showed inflammatory cells. There were apparent increase of collagen fibers, significant increase of anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive nuclei among hepatocytes and strong immunoreaction for anti-Transforming growth factor(TGF-β1) in the wall of portal vein. Group IV showed improvement of histological and immunohistochemical changes described before.
Conclusion: Propolis has potential protective effect against D-GalN/LPS induced hepatotoxicity in rats as it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activities.
|
