Abstract

Recent pandemics caused by virus like influenzavirus (H1N1, H5N1) reaffirm the importance of studies aiming at obtaining new virucidal and/or antiviral substances, once its prolonged use can lead to resistance to the active principles. Green propolis, which has several scientifically proven bioactive properties, was evaluated in this study as an ethanol extract regarding its virucidal capacity against avipoxvirus (APV) inoculated in chorioallantoic membrane of chicken embryos (CAM). Eggs inoculated with virus and 2400 µg/dose of propolis, previously incubated for four hours, presented reduction in the pox lesions number (p<0.05) in relation to the positive control, besides reduction in the number of intracytoplasmatic inclusion bodies and in the vacuolar degeneration score of epithelial cells from mesoderm CAM. After eight hours of incubation with the virus, the same concentration of propolis completely inactivated APV (p<0.0001) and in concentrations ten times lower (240 μg/dose) significantly reduced the pox lesion numbers and the histopathology findings (p<0.05). This product from bees presented virucidal activity depending on the dose and the incubation time with the virus before the inoculation. Although further research is needed, the activity of green propolis against APV can represent a new approach to virucidal or antiviral drugs development.

Key words: Green propolis, virucidal activity, avipoxvirus, chorioallantoic membrane.