Bovine mastitis is an inflammatory disease of the udder that causes important economic losses in the animal breeding and dairy product industries. Nowadays, the conventional livestock antibiotic treatments are slowly being replaced by alternative treatments. In this context, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of natural products in alternative treatment of bovine mastitis. Two natural formulations with previously suggested in vitro antimicrobial effect were tested in vivo on mastitic cows. Animals with a positive diagnosis for mastitis (n = 20) were divided into three treatment groups: two groups (n = 8) were administered formulations of propolis, alcoholic extracts of Brewers Gold and Perle hops, plum lichen, common mallow, marigold, absinthe wormwood, black poplar buds, lemon balm, and essential oils of oregano, lavender, and rosemary designated R4 and R7 (differing only in the latter being more concentrated) and one group (n = 4) a conventional antibiotic mixture. In vivo efficacy of treatments was evaluated by somatic cell and standard plate counts, the treatment being considered efficacious when both parameters were under the maximum limit. R7 was effective in the most cases, being therapeutically bactericidal in six out of eight cows, while R4 gave good results in three out of eight cows, and conventional antibiotics cured one out of four. These results suggest the possible therapeutic potential of these natural products in bovine mastitis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate potential protective effects of propolis on furan-induced hepatic damage by assessing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), antioxidant enzyme activities, and histopathological changes in the liver. Albino Wistar rats were divided into six groups: a control, propolis-treated (100 mg/kg b.w./day), low-dose furan-treated (furan-L group; 2 mg/kg b.w./day), high-dose furan-treated (furan-H group; 16 mg/kg b.w./day), furan-L+propolis treated, and furan-H+propolis treated group. Propolis and furan were applied by gavage; propolis for 8 days, and furan for 20 days in furan-L groups and 10 days in furan-H groups. While MDA levels were elevated in furan-treated groups, levels of GSH and activities of antioxidant enzymes decreased (p < 0.001). The levels of MDA and GSH and activities of antioxidant enzymes were normal in the furan+propolis groups, especially in the furan-L+propolis group (p < 0.001). While the aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate pdehydrogenase activities were elevated in the furan-H treated group (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), they were unchanged in the furan-L treated group. Histopathologically, several lesions were observed in the liver tissues of the furan-treated groups, especially in the higher-dose group. It was determined that these changes were milder in both of the furan+propolis groups. The results indicate that propolis exhibits good hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential against furan-induced hepatocellular damage in rats.

The objective of the present study was to monitor the hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effects of propolis in rats fed high cholesterol diet. The rats (n=32) were divided into four equal groups. The rats of group 1 (control) were fed basal diet, whereas rats of group 2 were fed basal diet mixed with cholesterol (1%). The rats of group 3 and 4 were fed high cholesterol diet (1%) mixed with propolis powder 1 and 2%, respectively. Hematological parameters were comparable among all groups. Cholesterol, triacylglycerol and ALT activities were increased significantly in rat fed high cholesterol diet as compared to control. Inclusion of propolis in high cholesterol diets reduced these parameters in serum. Hematological and biochemical findings were supported by histopathological analysis of liver tissues. Conclusively, 1% propolis was found as safe and enough to induce beneficial hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effects in serum of rats fed high cholesterol diet.

A wide range of essential plant oils and extracts have been shown to be fungal inhibitors and could provide attempting alternative for treating animal infections. The current study screened the in-vitro antifungal properties of propolis in addition to Eucalyptus and Moringa essential oils on some fluconazole-resistant Candida isolates recovered from cases of bovine and ovine mycotic mastitis through determination of their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC). Propolis recorded MIC and MFC ranged from 44 mg/mL to 175 mg/mL and the isolates of C. albicans were the most sensitive. Eucalyptus was the most effective essential oil with MIC and MFC ranged from 2 mg/mL to 16 mg/mL and was mostly effective against C. tropicalis, C. albicans and C. kefyr. Regarding Moringa essential oil, the recorded MIC and MFC ranged from 31.25 mg/mL to 125 mg/mL and the most sensitive isolates were C. tropicalis and C. kefyr. The molecular characterization of azole-resistance genes revealed that all tested isolates harbored CDR gene 100%, while MDR1 and ERG11 genes were represented as 80% and 40%, respectively. Therefore, the antifungal effect of propolis and essential oils of Eucalyptus and Moringa against fluconazole-resistant Candida species were highlighted in the current study and can be employed as useful alternatives for the treatment of bovine and ovine mycotic mastitis.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most commercially and clinically effective chemotherapeutics, but its toxicity causes significant problems with its administration.  Consequently, it was intended in the current research to explore the potential activity of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and propolis against PTX-induced cardiopulmonary damage. Thirty male albino rats were divided equally into six groups: control group; given saline, CoQ10 group; given CoQ10 (100 mg/kg b.wt daily), propolis group; given propolis (200 mg/kg b.wt daily), PTX group; given PTX (7.5 mg/kg b.wt i.p.), CoQ10+PTX group; given CoQ10 (100 mg/kg b.wt daily) before PTX (7.5 mg/kg b.wt) and propolis+PTX group; given propolis (200 mg/kg b.wt) before PTX (7.5 mg/kg b.wt). All treatments were received for 4 weeks. The PTX group had significantly higher serum concentrations of CK-MB and LDH. This result was concomitant with histopathological changes that represented by cardiac necrosis and degeneration together with congestion, edema and hemorrhage in the heart. Lung injury induced by PTX was characterized by perivascular hemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltrates, bronchiolestenosis, hyperplasia and/or desquamation of the bronchiolar epithelium, alveolar emphysema, congestion, interstitial edema and fibrinoid necrosis of blood vessels walls. Besides, pulmonary fibrosis was confirmed by Van Gieson stain. Immunohistochemical staining for IL-1β revealed positive immunoexpression in heart and lung tissue. Treatment with CoQ10 and propolis ameliorated the cardiopulmonary toxicity induced by PTX indicated by improved microscopic picture of heart and lungs, serum biochemical parameters and decrease IL-1β immunoreactivity in heart and lung tissues. In conclusion, CoQ10 could be the best choice to counteract the cardiopulmonary toxicity produced by PTX exposure.