Introduction: Prenatal stresses have different effects on structural features and
antioxidant system in the fetus and build up disturbances in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenalaxis.
Propolis is known as one of the strongest natural antioxidants. The purpose of
this study was to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Propolis
on indices of oxidative stress induced by prenatal stress in the rat fetal
brain. Materials and Methods: Pregnant female Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups: Control,
stress+Propolis solvent, non-stress +Propolis solvent, stress +Propolis 50
mg/kg, stress + Propolis 100 mg/kg and stress + Propolis 200 mg/kg. In the third
to sixth groups, stress was created by restrainer for 6 hours per day from day
12 to day 20 of gestation in the rats. Then, the blood corticosterone and
malondialdehyde (MDA), ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), superoxide
dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in brain were measured
on day 21 of pregnancy. Results: Chronic prenatal stress significantly increased blood
corticosterone levels and MDA, whileas, reduced the levels of FRAP, SOD and GPx
in the brain tissue of 21 days old embryos. Treatment of pregnant rats under
chronic stress with extract of Iranian Propolis significantly reduced
corticosterone levels in blood and brain's MDA and also increased FRAP, SOD and
GPx in the brain tissue from fetuses. Conclusion: Our findings showed that
Iranian Propolis prevents from increasing serum corticostrone and brain MDA
levels and from decreasing FRAP, SOD and GPx levels in brain under prenatal
stress
Sameni H, Kavakebian F, Tabriziamjad M, Bandegi A, Yousefi B, Taherian A A. Effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Propolis on oxidative stress indices of rat fetal brain induced by chronic prenatal stress. Koomesh 1393; 15 (4) :482-492 URL: http://koomeshjournal.semums.ac.ir/article-1-2221-en.html