OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the protective effect of Malaysian propolis on diabetes-induced subfertility/infertility. Additionally, its combined beneficial effects with metformin were investigated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into five groups, namely normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + Malaysian propolis (300 mg/k.g. b.w.), diabetic + metformin (300 mg/kg b.w.) and diabetic + Malaysian propolis + metformin. Diabetes was induced using a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg b.w.) and treatment lasted for 4 weeks. During the 4th week, mating behavioural experiments were performed using sexually receptive female rats. Thereafter, fertility parameters were assessed in the female rats.
RESULTS: Malaysian propolis increased serum and intratesticular free testosterone levels, up-regulated the mRNA levels of AR and luteinizing hormone receptor, up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of StAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD in the testes of diabetic rats. Furthermore, Malaysian propolis up-regulated testicular MCT2, MCT4 and lactate dehydrogenase type C mRNA levels, in addition to improving sperm parameters (count, motility, viability and normal morphology) and decreasing sperm nDNA fragmentation in diabetic rats. Malaysian propolis improved mating behaviour by increasing penile guanosine monophosphate levels. Malaysian propolis also improved fertility outcome as seen with decreases in pre- and post-implantation losses, increases in gravid uterine weight, litter size per dam and foetal weight. Malaysian propolis's effects were comparable to metformin. However, their combination yielded better results relative to the monotherapeutic interventions.
CONCLUSION: Malaysian propolis improves fertility potential in diabetic state by targeting steroidogenesis, testicular lactate metabolism, spermatogenesis and mating behaviour, with better effects when co-administered with metformin. Therefore, Malaysian propolis shows a promising complementary effect with metformin in mitigating Diabetes mellitus-induced subfertility/infertility.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic on 300 mg/kg b.w. MP, diabetic on 300 mg/kg b.w. metformin, and diabetic on MP and metformin combined therapy. Treatment was done orally for 4 weeks, and NC and DC groups received distilled water as vehicle.
KEY FINDINGS: Results showed increased fasting blood glucose and serum markers of hepatic lesion (aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase), increased hepatic lactate dehydrogenase activity, decreased hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities, increased immunoexpressions of nuclear factor kappa B, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin(IL)-1β and caspase-3, and decreased immunoexpressions of IL-10 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the liver of DC group. Histopathology of the liver revealed numerous hepatocytes with pyknotic nuclei and inflammatory infiltration, while periodic acid-schiff staining decreased in the liver of DC group. Treatment with MP attenuated these negative effects and was comparable to metformin. Furthermore, these effects were better attenuated in the combined therapy-treated diabetic rats.
SIGNIFICANCE: Malaysian propolis attenuates hepatic lesion in DM and exerts a synergistic protective effect with the anti-hyperglycemic medication, metformin.
METHODS: Forty female rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 8/group) i.e. non-DM (non-diabetes), DM (diabetes), DM + Propolis (diabetes on propolis orally); DM + Insulin (diabetes on insulin subcutaneously) and DM + Combined (diabetes on propolis and insulin) groups. Propolis and insulin were given at 300 mg/kg/day orally and 5.0 IU/kg/day subcutaneously, respectively, for 4 weeks.
RESULTS: Fasting blood glucose, conception period, implantation losses, foetal blood glucose and placental oxidative stress markers such as malonaldehyde and protein carbonyl were significantly higher while maternal weight gain, foetal body weight and total antioxidant capacity were significantly lower in DM group compared with non-DM group. These changes were significantly improved in rats treated with propolis or insulin alone with greater significant effects in rats treated with both propolis and insulin.
CONCLUSION: This study may suggest the protective effects of propolis against DM-induced impaired pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress with greater effects when combined with insulin.
METHODS: 240 extracted human teeth were sectioned to obtain 6 mm of the middle third of the root. The root canal was enlarged to an internal diameter of 0.9 mm. The specimens were inoculated with E. faecalis for 21 days. Following this, specimens were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 30) according to the intracanal medicament placed: group I: saline, group II: chitosan, group III: propolis100 µg/ml (P100), group IV: propolis 250 µg/ml (P250), group V: chitosan-propolis nanoparticle 100 µg/ml (CPN100), group VI: chitosan-propolis nanoparticle 250 µg/ml (CPN250), group VII: calcium hydroxide(CH) and group VIII: 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel. Dentine shavings were collected at 200 and 400 μm depths, and total numbers of CFUs were determined at the end of day one, three and seven. The non-parametric Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the differences in reduction of CFUs between all groups and probability values of p