Therapeutic potentials of propolis and pollen on biochemical changes in reproductive function of L-NAME induced hypertensive male rats

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypertension is described as increased blood pressure based on changed hemodynamics and associated with an increased oxidative damage to reproductive function. This work is to determine therapeutic and protective effects of apitherapy products (propolis and pollen) on reproductive functions of L-NAME-induced hypertensive male rats.

Methods: Experimental animals were indiscriminately separated into four groups of seven rats in each group: (I) Control, (II) L-NAME, (III) L-NAME+ propolis and (IV) L-NAME+ pollen. At the end of the experimental applications, the rats were decapitated by anesthesia and biochemical analyzes were performed on the removed testicular tissues.

Results: The levels of TOS, NF-κB and MDA in the L-NAME group compared to control have increased (p < 0.05). The levels of these parameters in L-NAME+ propolis and L-NAME+ pollen groups compared to the L-NAME group have decreased (p < 0.05). TAS levels, PON1 and CAT activities were significantly decreased in testis tissue samples in the L-NAME-induced group (p < 0.05). However, these parameters were significantly lower in the L-NAME plus propolis and pollen groups (p < 0.05) compared with rats administered L-NAME alone (p < 0.05). NO level significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in L-NAME group compared with control group. There was no statistically significant changes in the NO level of the L-NAME+ propolis group compared with the L-NAME-treated group (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: It has been determined that ethanolic extracts of propolis and pollen, which are natural bee products in the regulation of rising blood pressure. Propolis or pollen is thought to help regulate reproductive function by inhibiting the functioning of inflammatory pathways leading to hypertension.

KEYWORDS:

• Hypertension
• testis
• propolis
• pollen
• oxidative stress
• nitric oxide
• paraoxonase

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Zeliha Selamoglu and Dr. Engin Sahna for helping in research.

Declaration of Interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Ömer Halisdemir University (Turkey) Research Fund (Project number: BAP 2012/38) is gratefully acknowledged for support of this work.