Objective(s): In this study, the adjuvant activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of propolis was examined on the inactivated herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1 ) . Materials and Methods: BALB/C mice were administered with inactivated (HSV-1; the KOS strain) plus alcoholic and aqueous extracts, followed by assessment of the cellular and humoral immune responses. Results: Alcoholic and aqueous extracts, as an adjuvant, revealed a significant increase in lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses versus the HSV-1 group. In addition, HSV-1 plus alcoholic extract showed a remarkable increase in IFN-γ cytokine and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. On the other hand, both alcoholic and aqueous extracts in the HSV-1 vaccine suppressed the IL-4 cytokine response as compared with the HSV-1 vaccine. In addition, HSV-1 plus alcoholic extract showed a significant increment in IgG 1}, IgG 2a}, and IgG 2b} isotypes as compared with the HSV-1 vaccine. Conclusion: Propolis extracts seem to modulate the immune response against inactivated HSV-1 model and can be used as a suitable vaccine adjuvant or a component of a complex adjuvant against infectious diseases.
【저자키워드】 Propolis, Th1, adjuvant, HSV-1, vaccine potency,