Abstract

Objective: To determine the noxious attribute of methanol extract of Nigeria bee propolis at 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight in rats. Methods: Healthy Wistar rats were indiscriminately assigned into three groups (A-C) of five rats each. The control rats (Group A) were orally given 0.5 mL of dimethyl sulfoxide daily for 21 days while rats in Groups B and C were administered the same 0.5 mL dimethyl sulfoxide containing 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight methanol extract of bee propolis respectively for 21 days. Results: The bee propolis produced no significant (P > 0.05) changes in the level of serum potassium ions, alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase activities whearas the level of total protein urea, creatinine and sodium ions decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase and the levels of serum potassium ions were raised significantly (P < 0.05) during the 21 days of study. Conclusions: The alteration in some of the biochemical indices of toxicity investigated, suggested a compromised functional integrity of the liver and kidney of the animals. Therefore, prolonged administration of the methanol extract of Nigeria bee propolis at 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight could be considered unsafe for therapeutic purpose and therefore should be taken with cautions when necessary.

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