Protective and Therapeutic Effects of Propolis
on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Injuries

Yein-Hua Shien Ying-Chin Lin *Song-Chow Lin **Yun-Ho Lin
Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Medical Collage Hospital
*Department of Pharmacology, **Department of Pathology,
Taipei Medical College

The hepatoprotective effects of Propolis was investigated

on acute hepatitis induced in mice by a single dose of

carbon tetrachloride.

Male ICR mice weighting 25-30 gm were used for this

experiment. All animals were purchased from the National

laboratory. Animal Breeding and Research Center and

kept at controlled condition with standard diet feeding for

one week.

Mice were randomly divided into five groups, ten to

fourteen mice in each group. Group A received only corn

oil (10ml/Kg,i.p.) and served as control. Group B-E

received carbon tetrachloride/ corn oil solution

(32ml/Kg, i.p.). Group A and B were treated with normal

saline(10ml/Kg,p.o.)while group C -E received Propolis

1/10 , 3/10 and original concentration (10ml/Kg, p.o.),

respectively.

All animals surviving 24 hours after the administration

of carbon tetrachloride were anesthetized with ethyl

ether; blood samples were obtained by cardiac

puncture and serum levels of SGPT, Triglyceride were

measured using a Paramax autoanalyzer.

Hepatoprotective activity was monitored by estimating

the serum transaminase , and triglyceride levels, then

confirmed with histopathological examination.

After treatment with propolis, a reduction in the elevation

of serum transaminase and triglyceride was observed.

Histopathologically, the propolis extract significantly

ameliorated the hepatotoxin-induced liver histopatholo-

gical changes in the experimental animals.