Effectiveness of propolis with artemisinin combination therapy in treating mice infected with plasmodium berghei

Objective: This study aimed to ascertain the effectiveness of combination treatment with propolis and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in avoiding further resistance to ACT. Methods: A total of 35 mice were injected with Plasmodium berghei and divided into six equal groups: No treatment (negative control), ACT alone (positive control), 75-mg propolis/kg body weight (BW), 150-mg propolis/kg BW, ACT with 75-mg propolis/kg BW, and ACT with 150-mg propolis/ kg BW. After 7 days of therapy, parasite density was calculated using a thin blood smear. Results: Parasite density significantly declined after combination treatment with ACT and 150-mg propolis/kg BW. Conclusion: Therapy with propolis alone showed no inhibitory effect on parasites, although its 150-mg/kg-BW dose was effective as an ACT adjuvant malaria therapy in mice.