Purpose

Propolis (bee glue) is a resinous mixture of different plant exudates that possesses a wide range of biological and antimicrobial activities and has been used as a food supplement and in complementary medicine for centuries. Some researchers have proposed that propolis could be a potential curative compound against microbial agents such as protozoan parasitic infections by different and occasionally unknown mechanisms due to the immunoregulatory function and antioxidant capacity of this natural product.

Methods

In this review, we concentrate on in vitro and in vivo anti-protozoan activities of propolis extracts/fractions in the published literature.

Results

In Leishmania, propolis inhibits the proliferation of promastigotes and produces an anti-inflammatory effect via the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. In addition, it increases macrophage activation, TLR-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-17 production, and downregulation of IL-12. In Plasmodium and Trypanosoma, propolis inhibits the parasitemia, improving anemia and increasing the IFN-γ, TNF-α, and GM-CSF cytokines levels, most likely due to its strong immunomodulatory activity. Moreover, propolis extract arrests proliferation of T. cruzi, because it has aromatic acids and flavonoids. In toxoplasmosis, propolis increases the specific IgM and IgG titers via decreasing the serum IFN-γ, IL-1, and IL-6 cytokines levels in the rats infected with T. gondii. In Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it decreases oocysts shedding due to phytochemical constituents, particularly phenolic compounds, and increases the number of goblet cells. Propolis inhibits the growth of Blastocystis, possibly by apoptotic mechanisms like metronidazole. Unfortunately, the mechanism action of propolis’ anti-Trichomonas and anti-Acanthamoeba is not well-known yet.

Conclusion

Reviewing the related literature could highlight promising antimicrobial activities of propolis against intracellular and extracellular protozoan parasites; this could shed light on the exploration of more effective drugs for the treatment of protozoan parasitic infections in the near future.

中文翻译：

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蜂胶（蜂胶）作为天然产品的有希望的抗原生动物活性：综述。

目的

蜂胶（蜂胶）是不同植物分泌物的树脂混合物，具有广泛的生物和抗菌活性，几个世纪以来一直用作食品补充剂和补充药物。一些研究人员提出，由于这种天然产物的免疫调节功能和抗氧化能力，蜂胶可能是一种潜在的治疗性化合物，可以通过不同的和偶尔未知的机制对抗微生物制剂，例如原生动物寄生虫感染。

方法

在这篇综述中，我们专注于已发表文献中蜂胶提取物/馏分的体外和体内抗原生动物活性。

结果

在利什曼原虫中，蜂胶抑制前鞭毛体的增殖，并通过抑制一氧化氮 (NO) 的产生产生抗炎作用。此外，它还增加巨噬细胞活化、TLR-2、TNF-α、IL-4、IL-17 的产生和 IL-12 的下调。在疟原虫和锥虫中，蜂胶抑制寄生虫血症，改善贫血并增加 IFN-γ、TNF-α 和 GM-CSF 细胞因子水平，这很可能是由于其强大的免疫调节活性。此外，蜂胶提取物可以阻止 T. cruzi 的增殖，因为它含有芳香酸和类黄酮。在弓形虫病中，蜂胶通过降低感染弓形虫的大鼠的血清 IFN-γ、IL-1 和 IL-6 细胞因子水平来增加特异性 IgM 和 IgG 滴度。在隐孢子虫和贾第虫中，由于植物化学成分，它减少卵囊脱落，特别是酚类化合物，并增加杯状细胞的数量。蜂胶可能通过甲硝唑等凋亡机制抑制囊胚的生长。不幸的是，蜂胶的抗滴虫和抗棘阿米巴的作用机制尚不清楚。

结论

回顾相关文献可以突出蜂胶对细胞内和细胞外原生动物寄生虫的有希望的抗菌活性；这可能有助于在不久的将来探索更有效的治疗原生动物寄生虫感染的药物。