Abstract
In the current study we show that propolis, a non-toxic natural bee-hive product, suppresses HIV-1 replication and modulates in vitro immune responses. CEM cells were treated with propolis at nontoxic concentrations prior to or following infection with HIV-1. Propolis abolished syncytium formation at 4.5 ug/ml and inhibited it at lower doses in a concentration-dependent manner. Propolis decreased p24 antigen production by as much as 90-100% in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, modulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) mitogenic responses upon the addition of propolis was noted, reducing the elevated responses to Concanavalin A (Con A) and enhancing suppressed mitogenic responses to pokeweed mitogen (PWM). In summary propolis may constitute a non-toxic natural product with both anti HIV-1 and immunoregulatory effects.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 89-96 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Drugs under Experimental and Clinical Research |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Drug Discovery
- Pharmacology (medical)
