Effects of hydroalchoholic extract of Iranian Propolis on acute, chronic and visceral pain in mice

Propolis is a natural bee product, which has been used in folk medicine for the management of different diseases. Regarding to anti-inflammatory effects of Propolis, in this study we evaluated the analgesic effects of hydroalchoholic extract of Iranian Propolis on acute and chronic pain.

192 young adult male albino mice (25-30 g) in 24 groups (n = 8) were used. Propolis (100, 200, and 500 mg/kg), vehicle and morphine as Positive control drug (5mg/Kg) were injected intera- peritoneally 30 min before the pain evaluation tests. Acute and chronic pain was assessed by by using hot plate (HP), tail flick (TF), formalin (FT) and writhing (WR) tests.

Comapred to the control group, Propolis extract in all doeses increased pain tolerance in both the HP and TF (P<0.01). In the FT, Propolis extract decreased the reaction time in neurogenic and inflammatory phases than the control group (P<0.01). Pretreatment with the Propolis extract reduced the number and time of of abdominal writhes in the WR than the control group (P<0.01).

The above findings showed that Iranian Propolis have anti-analgesic effects in both acute and chronic models of pain.