Abstract:

In order to study the effects of refined propolis on immune function of normal mice, spleen/body and thymus/body weight ratios, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), lymphocyte transformation capacity induced by ConA, antibody forming spleen cells (AFPC), 50% hemolytic concentration and carbon clearance ability, NK cell activity were determined after mice were orally administered with refined propolis at doses of 45, 90 and 135 mg/kg. bw for 30 days. Compared with the control group, refined propolis at dose of 135 mg/kg.bw could significantly enhance thymus/body weight ratio, DTH; increase AFPC and HC50, carbon clearance capacity of mononuclear-macrophages, NK cell activity and lymphocyte transformation capacity induced by ConA in mice. These results indicate that refined propolis can improve immune function in mice.

Key words: refined propolis, thymus/body weight ratio, carbon clearance ability, NK cell activity, immune function