Lung Damage Prevention of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis and Synbiotics in Inhalation Anthrax Model

Introduction: Inflammatory response and oxidative stress can be found in inhalation anthrax characterized by the increased level of serum Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Ethanolic Extract of Propolis (EEP) and synbiotics were known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to determine the effects of EEP and synbiotics on the level of TNF-α and MDA in inhalation anthrax model.

Methods: This was an experimental study with post-test only control group design on 40 samples of Rattus norvegicus with inhalation anthrax. Samples were randomized into 5 groups: control (K), antibiotic and EEP (P1), antibiotic and synbiotic (P2), EEP (P3), and synbiotics(P4). The value of TNF-α and MDA were measured 7 days after the spore’s inhalation and 14^th day since the given treatment. To compare the effects of EEP and synbiotics, we used the two-way ANOVA continued by the LSD post-hoc test (if the data normally distributed) or the Kruskal Wallis continued by the Mann Whitney test (if the data not normally distributed).

Results: EEP and synbiotics significantly reduced the level of TNF-α and MDA compared to control group. P2 showed the highest changes on TNF-α and MDA, which TNF-α was decreasing from 14.2825 ± 0.41623 to 8.4363 ± 0.44938 pg/ml and MDA changed from 14.2825 ± 0.41623 to 2.9638 ± 0.39885 nmol/ml. Followed by P4, P1, and P3 groups.

Conclusion: EEP and synbiotics have significant impacts on reducing TNF-α and MDA in model of inhalational anthrax.