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. 2013 Nov 27:13:337.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-337.

Topical Brazilian propolis improves corneal wound healing and inflammation in rats following alkali burns

Luiz Fernando Taranta Martin  1 , Eduardo Melani Rocha, Sérgio Britto Garcia, Jayter Silva Paula
Affiliations

Topical Brazilian propolis improves corneal wound healing and inflammation in rats following alkali burns

Luiz Fernando Taranta Martin et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. .

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the Brazilian Scaptotrigona sp propolis, a widely used folk medicine, in corneal wound healing and inflammation.

Methods: Corneal epithelial defects of 1 mm in diameter were made in the right eyes of Wistar male adult rats by cauterization with silver nitrate sticks. Subsequently, they were divided in two groups (n = 40 rats/group): Brazilian propolis (BP) group was topically treated with a microemulsion containing 1% Brazilian propolis; vehicle (VH) group received the same formulation without propolis. The epithelial defect area was photographed and measured at t = 0 (wound induction), and after 12, 24, 48 and 120 h of treatment. The inflammatory response was evaluated based on counting of neutrophils. Epithelial regeneration rates were determined based on Ki-67 expression in basal epithelial cells. Comparisons were made using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: The BP group presented both smaller epithelial defect areas at 12, 24 and 48 h and fewer corneal infiltrating neutrophils at 24 and 48 h (P < 0.01) than the VH group. These effects were associated with more pervasive Ki-67 staining in the BP group at 12 and 24 h (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Topically applied BP accelerated wound healing and reduced the inflammatory response to silver nitrate-induced corneal alkali burns in rats.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Photograph composition of representative images of corneas from rabbits of the Brazilian propolis (BP) and vehicle (VH) groups. A to D - comparison of the fluorescent-stained area of injured cornea between groups at different time points, as following: A and B - photographs at 12 hours of animals from VH and BP groups respectively; C and D – photographs at 48 hours of animals from VH an BP groups respectively. Note the smaller areas of injury with BP treatment (images B and D). Image E displays a representative histological section of central cornea of BP group at 24 hours (H&E; original magnification 100X), and F shows details of this area, including a brownish central lesion with loss of epithelium and superficial stroma, necrosis and infiltration of neutrophils (H&E; original magnification: 400X).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Immunohistochemical Ki-67 analysis of cornea tissue cauterized with Silver Nitrate, and treated with VH (vehicle - A) or BP (Brazilian propolis - B) eye drops. Photographs were taken at time-point 12 hours with 400X (original magnification).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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