Propolis efficacy on TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL2 cytokines production in old mice with and without systemic candidiasis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of propolis on cytokine levels in old healthy mice and old mice with systemic candidiasis. Fifty 8-month-old Balb/C mice were divided into five groups. Group 1 received orally the ethanolic extract of propolis (100mg/kg per day) for 7 days, group 2 received intravenously Candida albicans (C. albicans) (2 × 10(5) cell) and orally the ethanolic extract of propolis, and group 3 received intravenously C. albicans. After 18 days of experiments, all mice were euthanized. Then, blood samples were collected, and the spleens were excised. Splenocytes were isolated immediately and cultured in RPMI-1640 medium without stimulation and/or stimulated in the presence of Concanavalin A (Con A) for 48 h. The supernatant of splenocyte cultures and the sera of mice were tested for cytokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL2 by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa). Orally-administered propolis treatments showed that it alone suppressed all cytokines understudy (TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL2) in the sera of mice when compared to controls, whereas the cytokine production was strongly stimulated in old mice receiving propolis altogether with C. albicans. Our results indicated that propolis was not able to stimulate cytokine production in old mice, but it may have a beneficial effect on pathogenesis of systemic candidiasis by modulating levels of cytokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL2.