Who does not shudder to hear the word AIDS - of the immune system due to infection with human immunodeficiency virus that triggered the emergence of various diseases? According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), about 2-million people worldwide died from AIDS during 2008. That number may go down if people living with AIDS to know propolis.
Propolis is not yet clinically proven able to cope with 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 boost immunity of people living with HIV / AIDS. The research team suspected antiviral substances contained in propolis inhibit viral entry into CD4 + lymphocytes.
Propolis dose of 66.6? G / ml in cell culture of CD4 + - T cells in the immune system that have CD4 receptors capable of inhibiting expression of a maximum of 85% of the HIV virus. Prevalent in people with HIV / AIDS, the deadly virus infects CD4 cells and destroying bereseptor. Hence, her CD4 cell count in patients with HIV / AIDS fall far below normal. In healthy people, numbering around 500 - 1.500/mm3 blood.
Serious Illness
Based on research in foreign and domestic, propolis was proven effective against several serious diseases. Dr. Dr. Eko Budi Koendhori Kes, from the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Airlangga (Airlangga University Medical Faculty), for example, prove the bee glue that helps reduce damage to lung tissue in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis - the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB).
Of the 100 mice infected by 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 which kill the TB bacteria. Mice that were given only Isoniasid increased lung damage from week 5 to the 12. While the condition of lungs of mice that were given Isoniasid and propolis dose of 800 mg at week-12 the same as in week 5.
Propolis served to increase the patient's immune so that tissue damage can be depressed. Standard drug works directly attack the TB bacteria. Well, the combination of drugs and propolis off the TB bacteria while reducing damage to the lungs due to bacterial attack. 'Propolis is very nice 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 at the Integrated Testing and Research Laboratory (LPT) GMU, propolis products under study can inhibit cancer cells HeLa (cervical cancer cells), Siha (cell cancer of the uterus), and T47D and MCF7 (breast cancer cells) with IC50 values ranging 20-41 ug / ml. That is, propolis dose of 20-41 ug / ml can inhibit the activity of 50% of cancer cells in culture.
That's in line with research dr Woro Pratiwi MKes SpPD, from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Gadjah Mada (UGM FK). Propolis is given for 1 month have anticancer effects in living organisms. It was shown by the lower number of nodules or bumps and decreased tumor proliferation activities - doubling - breast gland tumor cells in mice. However, the effect is still lower than in mice fed a standard cancer drug, doxorubicin. 'So, have examined the use of standardized propolis with anticancer drugs for optimal therapeutic effect and minimal side effects,' said Woro.
Polyphenols and flavonoids, which contained some compounds in propolis, the possibility of a role inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. According to Dr. Edy Meiyanto from the Faculty of Pharmacy Gadjah Mada University, flavonoids usually have a distinctive structure that is able to inhibit protein kinases that are used for cell proliferation. If the protein kinase is inhibited, the process of cell physiology that also inhibited cell apoptosis, aka create a program to do suicide.
'Flavonoid and polyphenol compounds present in propolis also has antioxidant effects and antitrombositopenia,' said Prof. Dr. Mustafa MKes Apt from Section of Pharmacology & Toxicology FK UGM. FK UGM research team showed that propolis preparation can prevent the decrease in platelets was tested in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei - a parasite that causes malaria in mammals other than humans. Optimal dose of 5 ml / kg body weight was also able to increase the number of erythrocytes up to 37% after 8 days of administration.
Safe
Other efficacy of propolis that have been proven through research that is antimikrobanya effect. Tests conducted in 2007 showed propolis Eko capable of killing 26 bakteriStaphylococcus aureus isolates causing infections of the skin and respiratory tract and digestive tract penginfeksi Escherichia coli. Propolis dose 10% and 20% are able to kill the entire sample of both types of bacteria.
Similar research by Dr. Jessie Pamudji in the School of Pharmacy, Institut Teknologi Bandung prove propolis antibacterial effect against S. aureus and Propionibacterium acnes - a source of acne. 'It's because of propolis contains compounds that are antimicrobial which pinocembrin flavone, flavonol galangin, and acid kafeat,' said Jessie.
Most importantly, the research proves safe propolis although consumed in the long term. According to Sarto Mulyati Dra, MSi from LPT UGM, very low toxicity of propolis. 'Mice were given propolis every day for 1 month with normal dose, the function of organs and conditions remain good, no problem,' he said.
The normal dosage is equivalent to 1 tablespoon of propolis was dissolved in 50 ml of water for human consumption. Propolis is a new cause of death half the number of 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 each day. That is, efficacy and safety of propolis have been proven.
