Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of oral propolis in patients with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of Propolis have been proven in many in-vivo and in-vitro studies. Therefore, it seems that it can be used as a complementary therapy along with chemotherapy. This study examined the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Propolis supplement in comparison to a placebo in cancerous patients who received chemotherapy. Methods Breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were randomly assigned to two groups; a week prior to chemotherapy, the first group received Propolis (250 mg/ twice daily for 3 months) and the second group received a placebo daily. Serum Oxidant parameters, including the activities of lipid peroxidation products detected as Malondialdehyde (MDA), Protein Carbonyl (PC), 8-hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), Serum Pro oxidant-Antioxidant Balance (PAB), and certain immunological factors, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-a), Transforming Growth Factor (TGF –β), interleukin IL-10, IL-1β and IL-2, MMP2 and MMP9 were measured at baseline and at the end of intervention. Results A total of 50 patients were included in the study: 26 and 24 patients were randomly assigned to the Propolis group and the placebo group, respectively. The results showed that patients who received placebo showed a marked increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a (P = 0.007), interleukin (IL)-2 (P = 0.04) and Protein Carbonyl (PC) as a biomarker of oxidative stress (P = 0.03), but the Propolis group patients showed no significant increase in oxidant and pro-inflammatory markers (P > 0.05). Also, the Propolis group showed a significant reduction in PAB compared to its baseline level (P = 0.03) but the placebo group did not (P = 0.80). The changes of the measured Oxidant/antioxidant markers, inflammatory and MMPs factors did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion Daily supplement of Propolis (250 mg/ twice daily) which started a week prior to chemotherapy showed a significant improvement of oxidant/antioxidant balance compared to baseline and a non significant increase in serum concentration of protein carbonyl as a biomarker of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines of TNF-α and IL-2 in these compared to the placebo group, which might reflect anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Propolis.