Effects of Bee Propolis on FBG, HbA1c, and Insulin Resistance in Healthy Volunteers

Objectives

Bee propolis is a natural substance that is used in traditional medicine due to its versatile pharmacological actions. This study evaluates whether short term use of bee propolis supplementation could have an impact on glycemic control in healthy individuals.

Materials and Methods

A single daily dose of 1000 mg of bee propolis was administered orally to a total of 34 healthy individuals for 60 days. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and insulin resistance were measured in all participants before and after the use of bee propolis.

Results

The results of this study showed that bee propolis was associated with a significant increase in body weight and BMI of healthy volunteers. Bee propolis supplementation decreased FBG and HbA1c, but did not affect insulin resistance.

Conclusion

Based on these results, bee propolis supplementation has a potential effect on glycemic control in healthy individuals and this should be considered when using this supplement in medical conditions.

Oxidative Stress and C-Reactive Protein in Patients with Cerebrovascular Accident (Ischaemic Stroke): The role of Ginkgo biloba extract

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the presence of oxidative stress and inflammation in ischaemic stroke patients by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), and highly-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the early post-ischaemic period, and to determine the role of Ginkgo biloba therapy in correcting the markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.

METHODS

This study was conducted at Ibn Seena Hospital, Mosul City, Iraq and included 31 cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients and 30 healthy controls. Ischaemic stroke patients were divided into two groups: group I (n = 15) received conventional therapy; group II (n = 16) received conventional therapy with G. biloba (1500 mg/day) for 30 days. Blood samples were obtained from patients and controls before treatment and assays done of serum levels of MDA, TAS, and hsCRP. For CVA patients, a post-treatment blood sample was taken and the same parameters reassessed.

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, patients' serum levels of MDA, and hsCRP were significantly higher (P ≤0.001) and TAS significantly lower. Group I and II patients reported a significant reduction in serum levels of MDA and hsCRP and a significant increase in serum levels of TAS, in comparison with pre-treatment levels. There was no significant difference (P = 0.19) in serum MDA levels between groups I and II, whereas, serum TAS levels were significantly higher (P ≤0.01) and hsCRP significantly lower (P ≤0.01) in group II.

CONCLUSION

Acute stroke is associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the early period. G. biloba plays a potential role in reducing oxidative damage and inflammatory response.

Antioxidant status, C-reactive protein and iron status in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of acute pulmonary tuberculosis and the effect of drug therapy on markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA] and total antioxidant status [TAS]), C-reactive protein (CRP) and iron body status indices.

METHODS

Forty patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis from the Advisory Clinic for Chest and Respiratory Diseases in Mosul City, Iraq, were included in this study, with fifty healthy age and sex matched subjects as controls. Assessment of serum concentrations of MDA, TAS, CRP, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, transferring saturation percent and ferritin were done for both patients and controls. After two months of therapy with a daily dose of isoniazid 75 mg, rifampicin 150mg, pyraziamide 400 mg, and ethambutol 275 mg, the same parameters were reassessed for the patients.

RESULTS

After two months of therapy, there was a significant reduction in the levels of MDA, CRP, and ferritin, with a significant increase in the TAS, serum iron, and transferring saturation percentage with an insignificant effect on the total iron binding capacity in comparison with the patients' pre-therapy values.

CONCLUSION

Active pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with oxidative stress; the increase in the levels of CRP indicated that pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with an inflammatory response. The initial two months therapy led to significant improvement in oxidative stress and suppression of inflammatory responses. Newly diagnosed cases of pulmonary tuberculosis often had chronic anaemia of inflammation, but this therapy resulted in a significant correction of such anaemia.