Enhancing the Immune Function of Mice Using Propolis Extract Mixtures
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Abstract:
To study the effects of propolis extract mixtures on the immune function of immunocompromised mice models constructed using hydrocortisone (HY), experiments were conducted on six groups of mice models, namely, the negative control, model, propolis extract-treated (at a dose of 0.125 g/kg), and three propolis extract mixture-treated groups (at doses of 0.125 g/kg, 0.50 g/kg, and 1.25 g/kg, respectively). Oral administrations were continued for 30 days, and the immune indexes of the mice from the different groups were determined. Results showed that the propolis extract alone and the extract mixtures at different doses can resist HY damage to the spleen and thymus of mice, restoring the organ index from 2.80 to 3.89, 3.81, 3.92, and 4.11, respectively (p<0.01). For mice from all the treatment groups, the decrease in the peripheral white blood cell (PBWC) and lymphocyte (PBL) counts induced by HY was significantly improved (p<0.05). More specifically, for the high-dose group, the PBWC and PBL counts in the immunosuppressed mice increased from 3.62×109/L and 2.83×109/L to 5.35×109/L and 4.96×109/L, respectively (p<0.01). The carbon clearance indexes of the immunocompromised mice in the medium- and high-dose groups increased from 4.16 to 5.29 and 5.16, respectively (p<0.01); however, the effects on the low-dose group and the group treated with propolis extract were not as noticeable. The phagocytosis percentage of fluorescent microspheres by peritoneal macrophages in the medium-dose group increased from 18.70% to 28.60% (p<0.01). Furthermore, for the medium- and high-dose groups, the numbers of antibody-producing cells increased (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that the propolis extract mixtures can enhance the immunity of immunocompromised mice.
