• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.899-904
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• 2002

Aloe and propolis are extensively used in folk medicine. Ethanol extracts of Aloe vera (AE), ethanol extract of propolis (PE) and waxfree extract of propolis (PW) were prepared to test antimicrobial activities against five oral microorganisms (Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Enteococcus hirae, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans). Antimicrobial activities were tested by serial broth dilution method and expressed by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The AE showed relatively weak antimicrobial activities, while both of PE and PW greatly inhibited all microorganisms tested. To investigate the antimicrobial effects of the combined extracts of aloe with propolis, the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was determined by checkerboard assay for each strain. The combination of AE with PE or PW resulted in Synergistic effect against oral microorganisms tested (FICI=0.375) except Escherichia coli (FICI=1.0 for PE, FICI=0.75 for PW).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.895-902
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• 2002

Monocytes and macrophages playa major role in defense mechanism of the host response to tumor, in part through the secretion of several potent products and macrophage cytokines. Monocytes and tissue macro phages produce at least two groups of protein mediators of inflammation, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Recent studies emphasizes that TNF and IL-1 modulate the inflammatory function of endothelial cells, leukocytes, and fibroblasts. In this study, our work is directed toward studying the in vitro effects of Korean propolis on the ability to induce cellular and secretory responses in murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. It was found that Water Extract of Korean Propolis (WEP) could activate macro phages by producing cytokines. The production of the macrophage cytokines, IL-1 and TNF-$\alpha$, by RAW 264.7 treated with WEP was examined from 2.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml up to 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml with dose dependent manner. Nitric oxide (NO) production was also increased when cells were exposed to combination of LPS and WEP from 2.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml up to 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. At high dose of WEP (50 to 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) used to prescribe for anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine showed inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated macrophage. Besides cytokine production, NO release, surface molecule expression and cell morphologic antigen expression were increased in response to the stimulation by WEP. These results suggested WEP may function through macrophage activation.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2008

In this study, the minimum inhibition concentration(MIC), growth inhibition activity, and colony forming inhibitory activity of water soluble propolis against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella enteritidis were tested. The MICs of the water soluble propolis against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella enteritidis were 312.5 ppm, below 156.3 ppm, 625 ppm, 10,000 ppm, above 10,000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, above 10,000 ppm, above 10,000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, and above 10,000 ppm, respectively. The growth inhibition concentrations against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 156.3 ppm, below 156.3 ppm, 625 ppm, 5,000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, 10,000 ppm, and 5,000 ppm, respectively. However, 10,000 ppm did not inhibit the growth of Salmonella enteritidis. Finally, the colony forming inhibitory activities against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella enteritidis were 98.0%, 99.8%, 69.8%, 98.1%, 62.0%, 63.1%, 79.5%, 61.9%, 79.6%, and 0.0%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.689-694
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• 2003

Propolis obtained from honeybee hives has been used in oriental folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, or immunomodulatory agent. To prepare granule depending on operational parameters, such as glucose content to total sugar (X$_1$, 0~100%), ethanol concentration (X$_2$, 20~100%) and sprayed ethanol solution content (X$_3$, 6~10%) using propolis, response surface methodology was applied to monitor the changes in yield, fragmentation rate by shaking and organoleptic properties. Yield showed high with decreasing sprayed ethanol solution content and fragmentation rate by shaking decreased with increasing sprayed ethanol solution content. The organoleptic color, flavor, taste, mouth-feel and overall palatability were dependent on the glucose content to total sugar, ethanol concentration and sprayed ethanol solution content. Overall palatability was maximized in glucose content to total sugar 47.94%, ethanol concentration 56.45% and sprayed ethanol solution content 8.04% .

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2024

Background: Stingless bee propolis is a popular traditional folk medicine and has been employed since ancient times. This study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive activities of the chemical constituents of aqueous propolis extract (APE) collected by Trigona thoracica in a nociceptive model in mice. Methods: The identification of chemical constituents of APE was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ninety-six male Swiss mice were administered APE (400 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg, and 2,000 mg/kg) before developing nociceptive pain models. Then, the antinociceptive properties of each APE dose were evaluated in acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, hot plate test, and formalin-induced paw licking test. Administration of normal saline, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 100 mg/kg, orally), and morphine (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) were used for the experiments. Results: HPLC revealed that the APE from Trigona thoracica contained p-coumaric acid (R² = 0.999) and caffeic acid (R² = 0.998). Although all APE dosages showed inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, only 2,000 mg/kg was comparable to the result of ASA (68.7% vs. 73.3%, respectively). In the hot plate test, only 2,000 mg/kg of APE increased the latency time significantly compared to the control. In the formalin test, the durations of paw licking were significantly reduced at early and late phases in all APE groups with a decrease from 45.1% to 53.3%. Conclusions: APE from Trigona thoracica, containing p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid, exhibited antinociceptive effects, which supports its potential use in targeting the prevention or reversal of central and peripheral sensitization that may produce clinical pain conditions.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.442-452
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• 2009

Smoking has been known to exacerbate the initiation and propagation of oxidative stresses. Efforts have been made to reduce the smoking-induced oxidative stresses using commercial dietary supplements. Propolis is the resinous substance collected by bees from the leaf buds and bark of trees, especially poplar and conifer trees. In this trial, we examined whether a daily supplementation of 800 mg propolis can protect endogenous lymphocytic DNA damage and modulate antioxidative enzyme activities and the level of antioxidant vitamin in smokers using a placebo-controlled, doubleblinded cross-over trial. After two weeks of running-in period, 29 smokers (mean age 34.38 ${\pm}$ 1.73) received 6 tablets/day of either propolis or placebo pills for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks of washout period the subjects switched they pills for cross-over study. The degree of DNA damage (assessed by tail DNA, tail length and tail moment) was not significantly changed with propolis intake or placebo intake. Similarly, total antioxidant status (TAS) remained at the same level regardless of the treatment. Erythrocyte catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), plasma vitamin C and tocopherol level did not differ before and after propolis treatment, and did not differ between treatments. Putting all these results together, we would suggest that it is still too early to claim that propolis possess antioxidative activities.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.574-579
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• 2008

Propolis is the generic term for the resinous substance collected by honey bees from a variety of plant sources. In this study, we have assessed the immunomodulatory properties of propolis (P) and fermented-propolis (FP) in BALB/c mice. Mice were subjected to gavage once a day (for 14 days) with 50, 100, 200 mg/kg body weight P, FP, or vehicle. Lymphocytes were isolated from the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and the immune cell proportions, proliferative activities, and cytokine production were evaluated. The P- and FP-administration induced similar, but differential, alterations in the percentage of immune cell populations and their biological functions, including cytokine production and NK cell cytotoxicity. The proportion of$ CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ T cells in the spleen was increased slightly in the P- and FP-administered mice as compared to the vehicle-treated mice. In MLN, the percentage of $CD4^+$ T cells was increased significantly in the 200 mg/kg P-treated mice. The mice which were treated with P and FP evidenced significantly increased interferon-$\gamma$ and interleukin-4 production in concanavalin A-stimulated splenocytes, whereas the production of theses cytokines was not shown to be induced by P-treatment. In addition, NK cell activity was also increased dramatically by the administration of P and FP. Collectively, these findings showed that P and FP are wide-spectrum immunomodulators, which may modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.300.1-300.1
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• 2003

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.908-914
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• 2009

A central composite design was used to optimize extraction of propolis materials using ethanol. The independent variables in extraction experiments were ethanol concentration (50, 60, 70, 80, 90%, v/v) and extraction time (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h). Higher ethanol concentration and shorter extraction time increased total polyphenol content, but total polyphenol concentration began to decrease when ethanol concentration was higher than 80% (v/v). Ethanol concentration was more important than extraction time in optimization of total polyphenol content in propolis extracts. Electron-donating ability increased with ethanol concentration and shorter extraction time, with ethanol concentration being of greater significance. Antioxidant ability in extracts was optimal at an ethanol concentration of 65 - 75% and with an extraction time of 2.2 - 3.6 h. Nitrite-scavenging ability was increased with use of higher ethanol concentration and shorter extraction time. Total flavonoid content was maximized with an ethanol concentration of 68 - 82% and an extraction time of 2.4 - 3.7 h. Total flavonoid content was affected by both ethanol concentration and extraction time. By superimposition of contour plots, an ethanol concentration of 72 - 82% and an extraction time of 2.2 - 3.3 h were optimal for preparation of propolis extracts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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• 1997.06a
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• pp.97-97
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• 1997