Antimutagenic Activity of Egyptian Propolis and Bee Pollen Water Extracts Against Cisplatin-Induced Chromosomal Abnormalities in Bone Marrow Cells of Mice

Background: Bee-collected pollen and propolis are apicultural products which are recognized as a well balanced food. These beehive products are composed of nutritionally valuable substances and contain considerable amounts of polyphenol substances which may have several useful pharmacological properties.

Methods: The protective activity of Bee-collected pollen (BPE) and water-soluble derivative of propolis(WSDPE) aqueous extracts was studied on cisplatin(CDDP) induced genotoxicity in male albino mice(Mus mascullus).

Results: The treatment of mice with Bee-collected pollen and propolis extracts at doses 140 and 8.4 mg/kg body weight/day, respectively for 14 days synergistically with the intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin at dose of 2.8 mg/kg b.wt exhibited significant chemoprotective activity. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity was evaluated by the bone marrow chromosomal aberration assay and mitotic index, respectively. WSDPE and BPE, alone did not significantly induce chromosomal aberrations confirming their non-mutagenic effects. While, the animals in groups five and six (G5 and G6), that were injected i.p. with CDDP alone for one week and then for the next 14 days these animals were given WSDPE and BPE in synergistic with i.p. injection of CDDP, exhibited a significant decrease in cytogenetic damages induced by CDDP in bone marrow cells. The anti-cytotoxicity effects of WSDPE and BPE were also evident, as observed by significant increase in mitotic index, when compared to positive control group (G2).

Conclusion: Thus, results of the present investigation revealed that WSDP and BPE have chemoprotective potential against CDDP induced genotoxicity in bone marrow cells of male albino mice. Also, the present investigation indicated that the chemoprotective frequency of BPE was much greater than WSDPE.