Who does not shudder to hear the word AIDS - the immune system caused by HIV infection of human immunodeficiency virus that triggered the emergence of various diseases? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 2-million people worldwide died of AIDS during 2008. That number may go down if people with AIDS to know propolis. Propolis is not yet clinically proven to address HIV. However, based on research in vitro - in the lab - conducted by researchers from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States, propolis has the potential to enhance the immune system of HIV / AIDS. The research team thought that antiviral substances contained in propolis inhibit virus entry into CD4 + lymphocytes.
Propolis dose of 66.6? G / ml in cell cultures of CD4 + - T cells in the immune system that has a CD4 receptor to inhibit the expression of the HIV virus up to 85%. Typically in people with HIV / AIDS, the deadly virus infects CD4 cells and destroying bereseptor. Hence, the number of air-CD4 cells in people with HIV / AIDS fall far below normal. In healthy people, numbering around 500 - 1.500/mm3 blood.
Severe disease
Based on research in and outside the country, propolis was proven effective against several serious diseases. Dr. Dr. Eko Budi Koendhori MKes, from the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga (FK UNAIR), for example, prove the bee glue that helps reduce damage to lung tissue in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis - bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB).
Of 100 mice infected M. tuberculosis, mice given the combination Isoniasid - antituberculosis drug - 25 mg / kg body weight and propolis showed elevated levels of interferon γ. Interferon γ plays activate macrophage cells that kill TB bacteria. Mice were given only Isoniasid increased lung damage from week 5 to-12. While the lungs of mice given conditions Isoniasid and propolis 800 mg dose at week 12 the same as in week-5.
Propolis served to increase the immunity of patients so that tissue damage can be suppressed. Standard medications work directly attacking the tuberculosis bacterium. Well, the combination of drugs and propolis kill the TB bacteria while reducing the lung damage caused by bacterial attack. "Propolis is great to boost the immune system. In addition, I expect to have anticancer abilities, "said Eko.
Cancer
Alleged Eko did not miss. Based on research conducted in the laboratory of Integrated Testing and Research (LPT) UGM, the studied propolis products can inhibit cancer cells HeLa (cervical cancer), Siha (uterus cancer cells), and T47D and MCF7 (breast cancer cells) with IC50 values ranging 20-41 ug / ml. That is, propolis dose of 20-41 mg / ml can inhibit the activity of 50% of cancer cells in culture.
That is in line with research dr Woro Pratiwi MKes SpPD, from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Gadjah Mada (UGM). Propolis is given for 1 month to have anticancer effects in living organisms. Is indicated by a decrease in the number of tumor nodules or bumps and decrease in proliferation activity - a doubling - mammary gland tumor cells in mice. However, the effect is still lower than in mice fed a standard cancer drug, doxorubicin. 'So, need to be assessed using standardized propolis with anticancer drugs for optimal therapeutic effect and minimal side effects, "said Woro.
Polyphenols and flavonoids, some of the compounds contained in propolis, likely inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. According to Dr. Edy Meiyanto of the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM, usually has the typical structure of flavonoids that can inhibit protein kinase that is used for cell proliferation. If the protein kinase is inhibited, cell physiological processes that were inhibited cell apoptosis alias to make the suicide program.
'Flavonoid and polyphenol compounds present in the propolis also has antioxidant effects and antitrombositopenia,' says Prof Dr Mustafa MKes Apt of Pharmacology & Toxicology Section of the Faculty. Faculty research team show that tested propolis preparation can prevent a decrease in platelet counts in mice infected by Plasmodium berghei - a parasite that causes malaria in mammals other than humans. Optimal dose of 5 ml / kg body weight are also able to increase the number of erythrocytes up to 37% after 8 days of administration.
Safe
Other properties of propolis that has been proven through research that antimicrobial effects. Eko tests conducted in 2007 showed propolis capable of killing the 26 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that cause infections of the skin and respiratory tract and gastrointestinal Escherichia coli penginfeksi. Propolis dose of 10% and 20% are able to kill the entire sample both types of bacteria.
A similar study by Dr. Jessie Pamudji at the School of Pharmacy, Institut Teknologi Bandung prove the antibacterial effect of propolis against S. aureus and Propionibacterium acnes - the source of acne. 'That's because propolis contains antimicrobial compounds that are the pinocembrin flavones, flavonols galangin, and kafeat acid,' said Jessie.
Most importantly, recent evidence suggests that propolis is safe even if consumed in the long run. According to Dra Mulyati Sarto, MSi of LPT UGM, the toxicity of propolis is very low. 'Mice were given propolis every day for 1 month with a normal dose, organ function and body condition remained good, no problem,' he said.
Normal dose is equivalent to 1 tablespoon of propolis dissolved in 50 ml of water for human consumption. Propolis is a new cause of death half the test animals at doses above 10,000 mg / kg body weight. If converted to a person weighing 60 kg, the dose was equivalent to the consumption of 0.6 kg of propolis every day. That is, the efficacy and safety of propolis has been shown