Evaluation of Cuban red propolis extract on liver sinusoidal endothelial cell cultures

Resumen

An ethanol extract of Cuban red propolis (CRP), mainly composed of naphtoquinones,¹ has been reported to possess scavenging action against oxygen radicals as well as hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects on animal models. ^2-6 The 1:4- naphtoquinones-propolis derived fraction exerts scavenging action against oxygen radicals and inhibits tertbutyl/Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat microsomes. Five types of cells constitute the liver functional unit. They are divided into parenchymal cells or
hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells or sinusoidal cells. The sinusoidal cells are composed by fenestrated sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells or liver macrophages, fat-storing cells or liver fibroblasts, and pit cells or liver NK cells. Each of them has a specific ultrastructure and function, directly related to their functions. In addition, they display different reactions against induced liver damage or disease.⁸ From the morphological point of view, CRP extract induces recovery of hepatocytes structure until nearly normal conditions in rodents after acute induced liver damage in centrolobular and periportal liver regions,^3-6 but its effect on non parenchymal cells has not been studied before.