1. BEE PROPOLIS: THE IMMUNO- BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES Bratko Filipič 1, Lidija Gradišnik 2, Adriana Pereyra 3, Jana Potokar 3 1 Institute for Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1105 Ljubljana, Slovenia 2 Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Medical Faculty Maribor, University of Maribor, Taborska 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia 3 MEDEX D.o.o., Linhartova 49a, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

2. ABSTRACT The bee propolis is a multifunctional material used by the bees for the construction and maintenence of theri bee-hives. The use of bee propolis have resulted in the developement of different dietary supplements used as »natural« remedies. There is a knowledge on biological activity and toxicity of bee propolis indicating it may have many antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and antitumour properties. The pharmacologically active molecules in the bee propolis are mostly flavonoids, phenolic acids and their's esters. These components have multiple effects on bacteria, fungi and viruses. In addition, the bee propolis and its components have strong anti-inflamatory and immunomodulatory activities in vitro, as well as in vivo. During the immunomodulatory activity of bee propolis on peritoneal mnacrophages, the increase of their's microbiocidal activity was found. Its stimulant action on the lytic activity of NK (natural killer cells) and on antibody production were found. It has the inhibitory effect on the lymphoprolipheration that may be associated to its anti-inflamatory properties. The antitumour activity of propolis depends on the Caffeic acid phenly ester (CAPE). It was found that CAPE show the inhibitory effect on angiogenesis, tumor invasion and pulmonary metastatic capacity of tumour cells (CT26).

3. The analyses revealed that CAPE treatment reduced the number of mitotic cells and proliferating cell nuclear cells in C6 glioma. In contrast to T and B lymphocytes that require a proliferation phase that selects a population of effectors, the NK cells atre charging immediately on finding their targets.Their's activation is not only a result of a loss of MHC class I allels but also results from the direct recognition of target cell structures. The 10% propolis treatment increased the cytotoxic activity of NK cells against murine lymphoma, showing that short-term propolis treatment leads to theincreasing of the immune system, increasing the immunological response. THE AIM OF THE EXPERIMENTS 1.To analyze the propolis/Propolis Oral/Propolis Oral Jun- ior / by RP-HPLC 2. During the experimental analysis of different sort of propolis to show their's antimicrobial and antiviral acti- vity in comparison to Propolis Oral/ Oral junior. 3. To determine the immnuomodulatory activity of propo- lis.

17. CONCLUSIONS 1.THE RP-HPLC ANALYSES OF PROPOLIS (ETH.EXTRACT, WATER SOLUBLE PROPOLIS) AND PROPOLIS ORAL/ ORAL JUNIOR SHOW THE PRESENCE OF PINOCEMBRIN (2.0 mg/100g) AND GALANGIN (2.1 mg/100 g). 2.AGAINST G- BACTERIA ETH. EXTRACT OF PROPOLIS AND WATER SOLUBLE PROPOLIS SHOW WEAK EFFECT (HIGH MIC VALUES). 3.AGAINST G+ BACTERIA THEY SHOW GOOD ACTIVITY (LOW MIC VALUES). 4.THE BEST IS THEIR'S ACTIVITY AGAINST CANDIDA ALBICANS (LOWEST MIC VALUES).

18. 5. IN GENERAL THE WATER SOLUBLE PROPOLIS SHOW STRONG ANTI INFLUENZA ACTIVITY, WHILE PROPOLIS- ORAL SHOW STRONG ANTI-A AND ANTI-B INFLUENZA ACTIVITY. 6. THE IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF PROPOLIS SHOW: 6.1.STRONGER NO, H2O2 AND LYSOZIM ACTIVITY OF ETH. EXTRACT OF PROPOLIS. 6.2.STRONGER TNF- α AND HuIFN- γ ACTIVITY WITH WATER SOLUBLE PROPOLIS. 6.3.STRONGER IL-1α, IL-2 AND IL-4 ACTIVITY WITH ETH.EX- TRACT OF PROPOLIS.

19. 6.4.STRONGER INDUCTION OF AB-ACTIVITY AGAINST G+ BACTERIA WITH ETH. EXTRACT OF PROPOLIS AND DIFF- ERENT AB-ACTIVITY AGAINST G- BACTERIA WITH ETH. EXTRACT OF PROPOLIS AND WATER SOLUBLE PROPOL- IS.