Effects of Standardized Brazilian Green Propolis Extract (EPP-AF®) on Inflammation in Haemodialysis Patients: A Clinical Trial

Background: Patients on haemodialysis (HD) present a significant inflammatory status, which has a pronounced negative impact on their outcomes. Propolis is a natural resin with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. We assessed the safety and impact of a standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) on the inflammatory status in patients under conventional HD.

Methods: Patients were assigned to receive 200 mg/day of EPP-AF® for 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks without the drug, and changes in plasma levels of interleukins (ILs), interferon gamma (IFN-), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), and high-sensitivityc-reactive protein (HsCRP) were measured. A heatmap was used to illustrate trends in data variation.

Results: In total, 37 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients presented an exacerbated inflammatory state at baseline. During EPP-AF® use, there was a significant reduction in IFN- (=0.005), IL-13 (=0.04 2), IL-17 (=0.039), IL-1ra (=0.008), IL-8 (=0.009), and TNF- (  <  0.001) levels compared to baseline, and significant changes were found in Hs-CRP levels. The heatmap demonstrated a pattern of pronounced proinflammatory status at baseline, especially in patients with primary glomerulopathies, and a clear reduction in this pattern during the use of EPP-AF®. There was a tendency to maintain this reduction after suspension of EPP-AF®. No significant side effects were observed.

Conclusion: Patients under haemodialysis presented a pronounced inflammatory status, and EPP-AF® was demonstrated to be safe and associated with a significant and maintained reduction in proinflammatory cytokines in this population. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04072341.