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Treatment of injuries in horses with propolis / Gökhan et al.__________________________________________________________________________ 
2 of 6 
INTRODUCTION 
Wound is the disruption of soft tissue integritys as a result of 
surgical, traumatic, pathological, or ischemic events [1, 2]. Wounds, 
and can occur acutely and chronically [2]. The main purpose 
of wound care and treatment is to ensure rapid and complete 
healing, protect the wound from a moist environment and prevent 
infection. Propolis is a natural substance with antibacterial, 
anti–inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, antiulcer, antitumoral, 
antiseptic, antihepatotoxic, antioxidant, and local anesthetic 
effects and has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment 
of various diseases since ancient times [3, 4, 5]. 
The antibacterial effect of propolis was observed especially on 
gram (+) cocci and gram (-) bacilli [6]. Owing to these properties, 
propolis has been used for the treatment of wounds in animals. The 
removal of foreign bodies and necrotic tissues in wound positively 
affects wound healing [7]. 
Skin wounds healing is a complex and well–organized process 
that involves a series of events, such as inflammation, re– 
epithelialization and regeneration of the skin, wound shrinkage, 
and remodeling in living tissue [8, 9]. 
Wound healing occurs in stages, such as acute inflammation, 
proliferation, and remodeling. These stages are generally difficult to 
observe externally. In practice, by observing macroscopic findings, 
wound healing consists of the stages of inflammation, granulation 
tissue formation, wound contraction and epithelialization [10]. 
Wounds in horses (Equus caballus), particularly in the distal parts 
of their legs, may heal slowly. Problems arise due to factors such 
as the complexity of wound tissues, long healing time of wounds, 
economic problems, and animal welfare. Many factors delay wound 
healing in horses. The most common of these is infection [11, 12]. 
Skin wounds in horses often heal “secondary” and a number of 
serious complications can develop [13]. Healing of wounds in equine 
distal limbs can often be impaired, resulting in exuberant granulation 
tissue and associated aesthetic changes and functional failures [14]. 
The effect of propolis on the healing process is still a matter of 
debate and is generally associated with the antimicrobial properties 
of propolis, free radicals, and stimulation of metabolism, rather 
than direct tissue regeneration [9]. 
In wound treatment in horses, the aim is to restore normal 
function and ensure that it is aesthetically correct [15]. Debridement 
and suturing applications in horses, especially deep and infected 
wounds, are very difficult due to the restraint of horses. In such 
cases, sedation and anesthesia are required. For this reason, it 
is preferable to perform wound treatment and care with more 
practical methods. The aim ofthis study was to use propolis to 
treat various wounds of 18 horses injured during the traditional 
equestrian javelin game, by taking advantage of the antimicrobial, 
anti–inflammatory, and local anesthetic effects of propolis. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Eighteen injured Arabian and British horses between the ages 
of 3-8 from the Malatya Equestrian Javelin Club were used. Of 
the horses that were physically examined, open wounds were 
detected in seven chronic septic wounds in four, chronic wounds 
in two, graze wounds in two, chronic and graze wounds in one, 
sharp object wounds in one and open wounds and lacerations in 
one horse. The breed, age, gender, injury type and region of the 
javelin horses used in the study are presented in TABLE I. 
Propolis extract 
Propolis extract was purchased from Haşerna Apitherapy 
Products (Amasya, Türkiye). The total phenolic content of the 
propolis samples was determined according to the Folin–Ciocalteu 
method [16, 17]. Gallic acid was used as the standard. The results 
are expressed as mg gallic acid equivalent/g sample. 
The total flavonoid content of the propolis samples was determined 
as described by Fukumoto and Mazza [18]. Quercetin was used as 
the standard. The results are expressed as quercetin equivalents 
(QE) per gram of sample. The antioxidant capacity of the samples 
was measured using a ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) 
TABLE I 
Race, age, gender, type of injury and region of javelin horses used in the study 
Case Name Race Age Sex Wound Shape Wound area 
1 Sert dadaş 
British 
horse 
3 Male Open wound Abdominal and Thoracic region 
2 Meriç 
Arabian 
horse 
4 Male 
Chronic (Septic) 
open wound 
Cidago, Gluteal, Right and left 
front legs, Right hind leg 
3 Baron 
Arabian 
horse 
4 Male Graze wound Thoracic region 
4 Turbo 
Arabian 
horse 
4 Male Graze wound Cervical region 
5 Şakra 
Arabian 
horse 
6 Female Puncture wound Buccal region 
6 Gölge 
Arabian 
horse 
4 Male Chronic wound Nape 
7 Demirkan 
British 
horse 
6 Male 
Chronic wound, 
Graze wound 
Left front leg, Right front leg 
8 Bulut 
Arabian 
horse 
4 Male Open wound Gluteal region 
9 Aşkar 
Arabian 
horse 
5 Male 
Open wound 
(Multiple) 
Back 
10 Atabey 
Arabian 
horse 
4 Male Open wound 
Left back and abdominal 
region, Right shoulder region 
11 Aliş 
Arabian 
horse 
4 Male Open wound Shoulder and spine region 
12 Gökbörü 
Arabian 
horse 
4 Male 
Chronic (Septic) 
open wound 
Right rear Art. phalangea 
13 Karakır 
Arabian 
horse 
8 Male 
Chronic (Septic) 
open wound 
Left lumbar region 
14 Aşil 
Arabian 
horse 
5 Male 
Chronic (Septic) 
open wound 
Left ischii 
15 Sadullah 
Arabian 
horse 
5 Male Chronic wound Abdominal and Thoracic region 
16 Poyraz 
Arabian 
horse 
5 Male Open wound Prepusyum 
17 Rüzgar 
British 
horse 
7 Male 
Open wound, 
Laceration wound 
Left Art. Tarsi, Right Corium 
coronarium, Metatarsal region 
18 Efe 
Arabian 
horse 
7 Male Open wound Left front Art. interphalangea