Antiinflammatory Effects of Korean Propolis in Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages and PMA-induced Mouse Ear Edema

The antiinflammatory effect of propolis collected from different geographic regions in South Korea was investigated in the present study. All propolis samples, from six different regions, dose-dependently inhibited the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Propolis also suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. Additionally, propolis extracts inhibited ear edema induced by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate in mice. Overall, in both in vitro and in vivo studies, Korean propolis extracts showed significant antiinflammatory effects without any geographical variation. In conclusion, Korean propolis could be of the potential for drug development against inflammatory reactions.