Abstract
Purpose::
Propolis, a honeybee product, has been used in folk medicine since ancient times due to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. The aim of this study was to determine whether a Brazilian extract of green propolis from Amazon has an effect in cornea wound healing.
Methods::
Two groups of adult male Wistar rats (groups A, B; n=6/group) were used in this study. In both groups, the center of the right cornea was cauterized using a silver nitrate applicator stick (75% silver nitrate, 25% potassium nitrate) to produce a 1 mm lesion. Afterwards, group A received eye drops containing micro-emulsion of green propolis extract 1% and group B received similar eye drops without propolis extract, every 6 hours. Rats were examined in a slit lamp connected to a digital photographic camera and pictures of the corneas were taken after 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 5 days. The area of lesion was calculated using image software (Image Pro Plus).
Results::
In all periods observed, group A showed significantly smaller lesions than group B (Mann-Whitney-U test). The measured areas of group A and B were, respectively: at 12 hours, 2.11±0.27 mm2 and 3.47±0.14 mm2 (p=0.011); at 24 hours, 2.33±0.09 mm2 and 2.66±0.08 mm2 (p=0.021); at 48 hours, 1.22±0.31 mm2 and 2.39±0.45 mm2 (p=0.046); and at 5 days, 0.69±0.09 mm2 and 1.13±0.24 mm2 (p=0.046).
Conclusions::
The present data suggest that the Amazon green propolis has a healing effect in cornea wound.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • wound healing