IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 10, Issue 2 Ver. II (February. 2017), PP 75-80 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/2380-1002027580 www.iosrjournals.org 75 | Page Preliminary Studies of the Immunomodulator Effect of the Propolis Trigona spp. Extract in a Mouse Model Nurbani Kalsum 1,2,* Ahmad Sulaeman 3,* , Budi Setiawan 3 dan I Wayan Teguh Wibawan 4 1 Postgraduate Program, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor- 16680, West Java, Indonesia 2 Agricultural Technology Department, State Polytechnic of Lampung, Soekarno Hatta Street no 1, Bandar Lampung - 35144, Lampung, Indonesia 3 Community Nutrition Department, Faculty of Human Ecology, Bogor Agricultural University, Kamper Street 2 nd Floor 1 st Level Wing, 4 Departement of Animal Disease and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Agatis Street 4 th Floor 5 th Level Wing, Dramaga Campus, Bogor - 16680, West Java, Indonesia Abstract: Propolis helps boost the immune system naturally because propolis is rich in bioactive compounds and can help increase the production and activity of immune cells. This product has attracted the interest of researchers in recent decades because of the properties of biological and pharmacological, among others such as antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory. One of bee species that potentially produce propolis in Indonesia is a local bee species Trigona spp. This study aimed to to determine the immunomodulatory effects of ethanol extract of propolis on the Sprague Dawley rats were infected by Staphylococcus aureus. Identification of the phytochemical compounds was undertaken to determine the bioactive compounds contained in propolis liquid. The effects of propolis were analyzed using the macrophage activity as determined by the phagocytic activity and by the production of nitric oxide (NO) in Sprague Dawley rat peritoneal macrophages and the production of antibodies. The results showed that the liquid propolis produces (a) an increase in the phagocytic index, (b) a significant increase in NO production, and (c) an increase over the production of IgG antibodies. This study indicates that the ethanolic extract of propolis of Trigona spp. is able to activate macrophages and promote the production of antibodies. The combination of these results suggests that this extract has an immunomodulatory effect and can boost the immune response. Keywords: propolis Trigona spp., macrophages activity, antibodies I. Introduction Propolis is a resin product that is used by the worker bees to seal cracks, caulking cracks, minimize and close the hole, and the chemical composition depends on the species of bees and vegetation of resin resources [1]. One bee species that potentially produces propolis that Indonesia is a local bee species Trigona spp. More than 300 chemical compounds have been identified from propolis, including polyphenol (eg, flavonoids), coumarin, terpenes, amino acids, minerals, etc. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. This product has attracted the interest of researchers in recent decades because of the properties of biological and pharmacological, among others such as antimicrobial [7, 8, 9], antitumor [10], immunomodulator [11], anti-inflammatory [12], an antioxidant [13]. The immune system or an immune response that occurs as a result of the invasion of bacteria as antigen when it enters the body will be eliminated by neutrophils and macrophages as its role in the innate immune system. Cellular immune response is more effective in eliminating intracellular pathogens. Macrophages are the main effectors in cellular immune response. As a professional phagocytes, macrophages are responsible for destroying cells infected with intracellular pathogens, including Sthapylococcus aureus [14]. Phagocytosis and secretion of reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) is the main mechanism for destroying macrophage cells infected with intracellular pathogens. Phagocytic activity of macrophages can be enhanced by immunomodulatory substances such as propolis. In addition, macrophages can also serve as antigen presenting cells (APC). Inside macrophages, the bacteria will be in phagocytosis and then be recognized by the major histocompability complex II (MHC II), and then will be presented in the form of peptide antigen. Furthermore, MHC II binds to T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes are known to have several surface molecules or cluster of differentiation (CD). Antigen peptides that have been presented by MHC II bind to T helper lymphocytes (CD4) on the T-Cell Receptor (TCR) [14]. Macrophages in performing that role, needs help endogenous mediators such as cytokines. While the need for exogenous mediators such as chemical compounds from propolis, still need in-depth research. Based on the above explanation, the study aims to determine the immunomodulatory effects of ethanol extract of propolis on the Sprague Dawley rats were infected by Staphylococcus aureus.