Honey and propolis abrogate neurologic deficit and neuronal damage in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of ischemic stroke rats

Summary. The effect of honey and propolis on the neurologic deficit and neural damage in extracranial internal carotid artery occlusion ischemic stroke was investigated using male Sprague-Dawley rats which were randomly allocated into distilled water, propolis and honey treated groups. Neurologic motor assessment was performed daily during the 7-day treatment period and brain samples were processed and analyzed by histopathological approach. Oral administration of honey and propolis from the Philippine stingless bees significantly improved the neurologic deficits, and minimized hippocampal and cerebro-cortical damage following ischemic stroke induction. These results showed that propolis and honey from Philippine stingless bees are potential neuroprotective agents for ischemic stroke. Industrial Relevance. Valued as a traditional and modern therapeutic agent, propolis and honey have been utilized in the management and treatment of various diseases due to its wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic and neuroprotective properties to name a few. However despite these great deal of evidences, studies on honey and propolis produced by an endemic species of honeybee called Philippine stingless bees are still lacking. The present study dealt with the neuroprotective role of these compounds underscoring its potential use as an alternative or adjunct treatment to stroke which causes significant human loss and disability especially in developing countries like the Philippines. Keywords. C erebral cortex; hippocampus; honey; ischemic stroke; propolis