Molecular and Cellular Biomedical Sciences (MCBS)
Vol 10, No 2 (2026)

Synergistic Effect of Propolis Extract and Vitamin E on TNF-α Reduction in High Fat Diet–Induced Rats

Novitasari Anggraini (Master of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, Semarang)
Joko Wahyu Wibowo (Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, Semarang)
Hadi Sarosa (Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, Semarang)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background: High-fat diet (HFD) can lead to a low-grade inflammatory state in the body called meta-inflammation. Propolis and Vitamin E are proven to act as antiinflamatories by inhibiting the NF-Kβ pathway, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, and scavenging free radicals. TNF-α is a biomarker for the analysis of acute pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study aimed to determine the effect of propolis extract and vitamin E on TNF-α responses in HFD-induced rats.Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial with post-test only with control group design. Thirty Wistar rats were acclimatized for 7 days, prior to randomization into five groups that are C group (standard diet), T1 group (HFD 2 mL of quail eggs/day),  T2 group (HFD + vitamin E 12mg /200 g of rat BW/day),  T3 group (HFD + propolis extract 36 mg /200 g of rat BW/day), and T4 group (HFD + vitamin E 6 mg/200 g of rat BW/day + propolis extract 18 mg/200 g of rat BW/day).  All intervention were administered orally for 14 days. TNF-α were measured from periorbital blood sample on day 15th using ELISA.Results: TNF-α highest levels was found in HFD group (T1) on 90.53±10.48 ng/L and the lowest was found in propolis group (T3) on 68.21±3.97 ng/L. Combination group (T4) has TNF-α levels on 68.46±15.39ng/L. One way ANOVA showed significant differentiation p<0.05.Conclusion: Propolis extract and vitamin E significantly reduced TNF-α levels on HFD induced rats, either in single form or in combination. This shows their rule as anti-inflammatory agent. Keywords: high fat diet, propolis extracts, TNF-α ,vitamin E

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Journal Info

Abbrev

mcbs

Publisher

Subject

Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Dentistry Immunology & microbiology Medicine & Pharmacology Neuroscience

Description

Molecular and Cellular Biomedical Sciences (MCBS) has been published by Cell and BioPharmaceutical Institute (CBPI), a biannually published scientific journal, is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that supports all topics in Biology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Histology and ...