Effects of propolis from Brazil and Bulgaria on fungicidal activity of macrophages against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 331 - 334
• Main Authors: MURAD, J. M, CALVI, S. A, SOARES, A. M. V. C, BANKOVA, V, SFORCIN, J. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier 01.03.2002
• Subjects: Animals; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Bees; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Bulgaria; General pharmacology; Interferon-gamma; Macrophage Activation - immunology; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Macrophages, Peritoneal - immunology; Macrophages, Peritoneal - microbiology; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Paracoccidioides - drug effects; Paracoccidioides - growth & development; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Propolis - isolation & purification; Propolis - pharmacology; South America; Brazil; Bulgaria; Europe; America; Immune response; Pharmacognosy; Propolis; Rodentia; Blastomyces brasiliensis; Animal origin; Cellular immunity; In vitro; Biological activity; Fungi; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Folk medicine; Mouse; Animal; Plant origin; Ascomycetes; Thallophyta; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/s0378-8741(01)00404-4

Paracoccidioidomycosis is the most important systemic mycosis in Latin America. Its etiological agent, Paracoccidoides brasiliensis, affects individuals living in endemic areas through inhalation of airborne conidia or mycelial fragments. The disease may affect different organs and systems, with multiple clinical features, with cell-mediated immunity playing a significant role in host defence. Peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice were stimulated with Brazilian or Bulgarian propolis and subsequently challenged with P. brasiliensis. Data suggest an increase in the fungicidal activity of macrophages by propolis stimulation, independently from its geographic origin.