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The effect of systemic application of propolis on tongue damage and oral mucositis in rats exposed to radiation

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Abstract

Purpose

In this experimental study, the effect of dose-dense systemic application of propolis on oral mucosity, histological changes in papilla, and inflammatory and hypoxic markers in rats exposed to radiation was investigated.

Methods

Seven rats were in the control and 30 rats in the experimental group. Three experimental groups were formed. In Group 1 RT (15 Gy) was delivered only to the head and neck region. In Group 2, RT (15 Gy) and systemic administration of 100 mg/kg/ml propolis, in Group 3, RT (15 Gy) and systemic administration of 200 mg/kg/ml propolis were applied. Oral mucositis index (OMI) was scored in control and experimental groups. Proinflammatory markers [interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] hypoxia markers [glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)] were studied histomorphologically.

Results

The significantly highest OMI score was observed in the G1. OMI score was statistically significantly decreased in experimental groups receiving systemic propolis, especially in G3. Proinflammatory markers increased significantly only in the experimental RT group, G1. Serum levels of MPO and TNF-α significantly decreased in the dose-dense systemic propolis arm. The highest levels of hypoxia markers (HIF-1α and GLUT-1) were detected in the RT group, then in G2, G3, and control groups in order of decreasing frequency. However, the difference between the groups did not reach the level of statistical significance.

Conclusion

Systemic propolis can be reduced acute mucositis with its anti-inflammatory effect without developing resistance to RT (tumor protection). However, greater number of clinical studies should be designed to arrive at definitive conclusions.

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Funding

Financial support was received within the scope of the scientific research project of Gaziosmanpasa Üniversitesi, scientific research project no 2020-113.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey

    Gulhan Guler Avci & Halis Bozkurt

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey

    Ibrahim Erdim

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey

    Zeliha Cansel Ozmen

  4. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey

    Fikret Gevrek

  5. Medical Dentist, Tokat Private Dental Practice, Tokat, Turkey

    Sefa Colak

  6. Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey

    Mustafa Sami Demirsoy

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  1. Gulhan Guler Avci
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  2. Ibrahim Erdim
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  3. Zeliha Cansel Ozmen
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  4. Fikret Gevrek
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  7. Halis Bozkurt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gulhan Guler Avci.

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The authors declare that they have no conficts of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the ethics committee of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee with the decision no 51879863-118 on 9 September 2020.

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Guler Avci, G., Erdim, I., Ozmen, Z.C. et al. The effect of systemic application of propolis on tongue damage and oral mucositis in rats exposed to radiation. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 279, 1043–1052 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07159-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07159-9

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