Aim: To investigate whether Brazilian green propolis improves the immune response against recurrent form isolate recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) caused by Candida albicans by increasing neutrophil oxidative burst.
Materials & methods: We evaluated oxidant species production, oxygen consumption, microbicidal activity and myeloperoxidase activity in neutrophils previously treated with propolis and activated with different isolates of C. albicans (RVVC), vulvovaginal candidiasis, asymptomatic isolates and the reference strain.
Results: Propolis significantly increased oxidant species production, oxygen consumption, microbicidal activity and myeloperoxidase activity of neutrophils against different isolates of C. albicans including RVVC isolate that are considered resistant to the microbicidal activity of neutrophils.
Conclusion: Brazilian green propolis may increase neutrophil burst oxidative response to RVVC leading to an efficient removal of C. albicans.
Keywords: neutrophils; propolis; vulvovaginal candidiasis.