Topical antiinflammatory activity of an innovative aqueous formulation of actichelated ® propolis vs two commercial propolis formulations

A novel aqueous commercial formulation of a new hydrophilic propolis product (Actichelated ® Propolis, contained in ‘LeniGola PropolEffect Spray Senza Alcohol’; Pharbenia, Milan, Italy) was evaluated for its topical antiinflammatory activity in comparison with a hydroglyceric propolis spray solution (‘Propoli LeniGola Spray Senza Alcool’; Pharbenia, Milan, Italy) and a hydroalcohol preparation (‘Propoli LeniGola Spray Forte’; Pharbenia, Milan, Italy). Actichelated ® propolis (Actimex, Trieste, Italy) is a multicomposite material obtained with a patented technology, mechano‐chemical activation, which application led to a new hydrosoluble form of propolis. Each propolis preparation provoked a dose‐dependent inhibition of the croton oil‐induced ear oedema in mice. Considering the administered doses of flavonoids, ‘LeniGola PropolEffect Spray Senza Alcool’ (ID 50 = 13.6 µL/cm 2 , corresponding to 13.6 µg flavonoids/cm 2 ) is slightly more active than the hydroglyceric formulation ‘Propoli LeniGola Spray’ (ID 50 = 13.7 µL/cm 2 , corresponding to 20.6 µg flavonoids/cm 2 ) and six times more active than the hydroalcohol preparation ‘Propoli LeniGola Spray Forte’ (ID 50 = 5.5 µL/cm 2 , corresponding to 82.5 µg flavonoids/cm 2 ). As a reference, 15 µL/cm 2 of the commercial sprays Tantum ® Verde and Froben ® , containing 37.5 or 45 µg of the non‐steroidal antiinflammatory drugs benzidamine hydrochloride or flurbiprofen, induced 18% and 35% oedema inhibition, respectively. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.