Estudo comparativo da atividade anti-inflamatória e antifúngica de extratos de própolis vermelha e verde

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory activity of propolis is fairly described in the literature and some studies suggest that may be related to the presence of flavonoids, which have inhibitory activity on the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. However the results are not conclusive and thus, many researchers have investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of propolis in several models of inflammation suggesting possibility of multiple mechanisms of action. In this sense, this work has made a comparative study of anti-inflammatory activity of red propolis , a new species, little studied, came from coast of Pernambuco and green propolis, from Minas Gerais in two animal models of inflammation, swelling of the ear induced by Croton oil in mice and the paw edema induced by carrageenan in rats. Antiinflammatory activity was observed in both models, but there was a greater effectiveness for the red propolis. Another pharmacological activity of propolis popularly known and well scientifically studied is its antimicrobial activity. It was objective of this study also to investigatate and compare the action of anti-fungal activity of two types of propolis in several strains of candida. Although the finding of strains of Candida at any microflora of man does not induce any inconvenience that may promote disease, the yeast of Candida spp. are perhaps the most opportunistic fungus described. Thus, these cases are related to a large number of organic diseases and malfunctions. Thus the rising tide of infections caused by Candida (especially nosocomial) and its resistance to antibiotics has increased the search for new therapeutic alternatives. Accordingly, this study also tested the sensitivity of seven species of Candida sp. of clinical interest, to the action of red and green propolis. The test results of inhibition in Petri dishes using discs of paper impregnated with extract of propolis, showed varying levels of inhibition, with a slight inhibition been observed for most strains. In short, these studies, although preliminary, indicate differences in effectiveness between the red and green propolis and appeal to the need for more thorough analysis of the issue in view of the scarcity of studies for the red propolis.