Abstract

In the current study, we investigated the effect of propolis on diabetic mice undergoing propolis treatment (150 mg/kg/day) for a 6 week period. We also evaluated serum lipids, glucose, insulin levels and the effect on glucose uptake of 2-deoxy-D-[2,6-3H] glucose, [14C]-glycogen synthesis and [U-14C]-D-glucose decarboxylation induced by insulin in muscle tissue. Our results show that treatment with propolis (150 mg/kg/day) reduced insulin and HOMA index (P<0.05). Propolis also lowered abdominal obesity (P<0.05). No effects over serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels were observed. We also observed that uptake of 2- deoxy-D-[2,6-3H] glucose, [14C]-glycogen synthesis and [U-14C]-D-glucose decarboxylation induced by insulin in soleus muscle of mice treated with propolis were significantly greater than control group (P<0.05). In summary, our data establishes that propolis modulates glucose metabolism. This result constitutes important data indicating that propolis can be used as a polyphenols source with antidiabetogenic activity.