Abstract: Objective: To investigate the intervention effect of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) on liver and kidney injury induced by cisplatin (CP). Methods: Rats were treated by intragastric administration with different doses of EEP (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg mb) for 7 days, and then the liver and kidney injury models were established by a single intraperitoneal injection of CP (10 mg/kg mb) at 2 h after the last administration. Finally, the rats were intragastrically administrated for another 5 days. The intervention effect of EEP on cisplatin toxicity was evaluated by measuring the markers of liver and kidney injury in serum and the levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in liver and kidney and observing the pathological changes of liver and kidney. Results: EEP significantly reduced cisplatin-induced toxicity in rat liver and kidney. Compared with the model group, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the contents of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) in serum were decreased in the high-dose group. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver and kidney were increased. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were decreased. The histopathologic examination indicated that the pathological changes of liver and kidney were observed in the model group, with hepatic lobule necrosis and the abscission and cavitation of glomerular cells. These pathological changes were attenuated to varying degrees in the EEP treatment groups. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of propolis can reduce cisplatin-induced liver and kidney damage by reducing the level of oxidative stress and improving the antioxidant capacity of the body.

Key words: propolis, cisplatin toxicity, liver injury, kidney injury, oxidative stress