Effect of Propolis on Salivary Glands After Radiotherapy

Ibrahim Erdim; Sefa Colak; Mustafa Sami Demirsoy; Gulhan Guler Avci; Fikret Gevrek; Zeliha Cansel Ozmen

doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000010247

Effect of Propolis on Salivary Glands After Radiotherapy

J Craniofac Surg. 2024 May 10. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000010247. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ibrahim Erdim¹, Sefa Colak², Mustafa Sami Demirsoy², Gulhan Guler Avci³, Fikret Gevrek⁴, Zeliha Cansel Ozmen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Otorhinolaryngology Department, Medical Faculty, Health Sciences University, Sancaktepe Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Education and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
² Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Türkiye.
³ Oncology Department, Medical Faculty, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Türkiye.
⁴ Histology and Embriology Department, Medical Faculty, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Türkiye.
⁵ Medical Biochemistry Department, Medical Faculty, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Türkiye.

PMID: 38727245
DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000010247

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effects of increasing propolis doses on salivary glands exposed to radiotherapy (RT).

Methods: Thirty-seven rats were divided into 4 groups: The control group (G0, n: 7), G1 group (n: 10), G2 group (n: 10), and G3 group (n: 10). The rats in the G1 group received 15 Gray (Gy) RT only to the head and neck area. The rats in the G2 and G3 groups received 15 Gy RT for the head and neck area along with 100 mg/kg/ml and 200 mg/kg/ml of propolis. The parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands of rats were immunohistochemically stained with aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) and aquaporin-5 (AQP-5). They were also evaluated for malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPO), total antioxidant (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS).

Results: AQP-1 and AQP-5 values were highest in G0 group followed by G3, G2, and G1 groups in decreasing order. The MDA and TOS values were highest in G1 group, which was followed by G2, G3, and G0 groups. The highest GPO, SOD, and TAS values were observed in G0 group followed by G3, G2, and G1 groups in decreasing order.

Conclusion: It was found that propolis increased antioxidant products and decreased oxidative products in the salivary glands receiving RT in parallel with the dose increase. Similarly, in the groups receiving propolis, an increase in the immune expression of aquaporin molecules was detected in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these data, it could be stated that propolis has a healing effect on the salivary glands exposed to RT.