Propolis contains resinous substances collected by honey bees from various plant sources and has been used as a traditional folk medicine since ca 300 BC. Nowadays, the use of evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing rapidly and so is the use of propolis in order to treat or support the treatment of various diseases. Much attention has been focused on propolis from Populus sp. (Salicaceae) and Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteracea), but scientific information about the numerous other types of propolis is still sparse. We gathered six samples of red propolis in five states of Northeastern Brazil. The beehives were located near woody perennial shrubs along the sea and river shores. The bees were observed to collect red resinous exudates on Dalbergia ecastophyllum (L) Taub. (Leguminosae) to make propolis. The flavonoids of propolis and red resinous exudates were investigated using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography. We conclude that the botanical origin of the reddish propolis is D. ecastophyllum. In areas where this source (D. ecastophyllum) was scarce or missing, bees were collecting resinous material from other plants. Propolis, which contained the chemical constituents from the main botanical origin, showed higher antimicrobial activity.

Propolis is a resinous product collected by honey bees. It was also reported that propolis has a wide variety of biological actions, including antimicrobial activity and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and suppressive effects of dioxin toxicity activities. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro cytotoxic activities of green propolis (G12) and red propolis (G13) in human leukemia cells. These cells were incubated with different concentrations of propolis and 48 hours after the IC50 was calculated for each cell. The results showed that the red propolis has cytotoxic effect in vitro higher than green propolis. Red propolis was showed to be cytostatic in K562 cells and caused the same amount of apoptosis as its control Gleevec. In conclusion, these results showed that red propolis is more cytotoxic than the green propolis in a variety of human cell lines of leukemia. Red propolis may contain drugs capable of inhibiting cancer cell growth. Therefore, further isolation of respective chemical ingredients from the red propolis (G13) for identification of the activities is necessary.

Abstract. Propolis is a resinous substance collected by bees (Apis mellifera) from various tree buds which they then use to coat hive parts and to seal cracks and crevices in the hive. Propolis, a known ancient folk medicine, has been extensively used in diet to improve health and to prevent disease. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of ethanolic extracts of Brazilian propolis group l2 and bud resins of botanical origin (B. dracunculifolia), and propolis group 3 on proliferation of metastasis (DU145 and PC-3) and primary malignant tumor (RC58T/h/SA#4)-derived human prostate cancer cells. The strongest inhibition was observed in propolis group 3 (sample #3) extracts whereas moderate growth inhibition was observed in human prostate epithelial cells. In the RC58T/h/SA#4 cells, resins of botanical origin of propolis group 12 (sample #1) and propolis group 12 (sample #2) induced growth inhibition that was associated with S phase arrest whereas propolis group 3 (sample #3) induced growth inhibition that was associated with G2 arrest. The mechanisms of cell cycle effects of propolis were investigated. The resins of botanical origin of propolis group 12 and propolis group 12 showed similar inhibition of cyclin D1, CDK4 and cyclin B1 expression. Propolis group 3 showed higher induction of p21 expression but no inhibition of cyclin D1, CDK4 and cyclin B1 expression. The results obtained here demonstrate that the Brazilian propolis extracts have significant inhibitory effect on proliferation of human prostate cancer cells. Inhibition was achieved through regulation of protein expression of cyclin D1, B1 and cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) as well as p21. Our results indicate that the Brazilian propolis extracts show promise as chemotherapeutic agents as well as preventive agents against prostate cancer. IntroductionProstate cancer is the most common male cancer in USA and other Western countries, and the second leading cause of male cancer death in USA (1). Despite its pervasive impact, the etiology of prostate cancer and the factors that promote its progression are not well understood. To date, there is no secure way to tell whether prostate cancer, once found, should receive treatment. Although prostatectomy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy have been used for curing prostate cancer patients, recurrence and metastasis of prostate cancer are major problems in prostate cancer therapy. Current available treatment often has troubling side-effects such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. There is no effective treatment modality once the cancer has evolved into the hormone refractory stage. Preventive strategies are currently emerging. These is an increase in the usage of nutritional supplements such as soybeans, garlic, green tea and Vitamin D3 etc., to augment the prescribed anticancer therapies.Propolis is a resinous substance collected by Apis mellifera from various tree buds which they then use to coat hive parts and to seal cracks and crevices in the hive (2). Propolis has been used as ...

Suppressive effects of ethanolic extracts prepared from propolis group 12 and its main botanical origin (leaf bud of Baccharis dracunculifolia) on transformation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), the initial action of dioxin toxicity, were investigated. It was found that suppressive effects of propolis on AhR transformation were relatively higher than those of resins of its botanical origin in cell-free system and in Hepa-1c1c7 cells. When the composition of chemical ingredients was measured, propolis contained slightly higher amounts of flavonoid aglycones as compared with its botanical origin with the same characteristics. Moreover, antiradical activity, one of the typical biological activities of flavonoids, in propolis was also slightly higher than that in its botanical origin. These results indicate that not only propolis but also its botanical origin contains high amounts of flavonoid aglycones and that both of them are useful dietary sources for flavonoids with a potency to prevent dioxin toxicity.

IntroductionPropolis (also referred to as bee's glue) possesses a broad spectrum of biological activities, such as anti-hepatotoxic, antitumor, antiviral, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory properties, and is therefore used as a constituent of health foods and functional foods (BURDOCK, 1998).Propolis is collected from the leaf buds of numerous tree species (alder, birch, palm, pine, poplar and willow). Other plant exudates and secretions, such as substances secreted by plants to seal wounds, lipophylic substances on leaves, mucilages, gums, resins, lattices, etc. are also used (BANKOVA; CASTRO;MARCUCCI, 2000). Brazilian Green Propolis is collected from the tender sprouts of Baccharis dracunculifolia, which is commonly found in the States of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná AGUIAR, 2002;IKEGAKI;ALENCAR, 2000). In Brazil, twelve distinct groups of propolis have been classified according to their botanical origin and biological properties. Brazilian Green Propolis is classified as Group 12, which is the most commercialized and largely used in foods and beverages to improve health and prevent diseases (PARK et al., 2005).Propolis is in general composed of 50% resin and balsam, 30% wax, 10% essential and aromatic oils, 5% pollen, and 5% other substances, such as aliphatic acids, esters, aromatic acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, aldehydes, amino acids, ketones, chalcones, dihydrochalcones, terpenoids, vitamins (B1, B2, B6, C and E) and minerals (aluminum, antimony, calcium, cesium, copper, iron, lanthanum, manganese, mercury, nickel, silver, vanadium and zinc) (ALMEIDA; MENEZES, 2002). Resumo Extratos etanólicos e óleos essenciais de própolis verde do sudeste brasileiro e gemas de sua origem botânica (Baccharis dracunculifolia) foram analisados por CLAE-FR (Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência em Fase Reversa), CCDAE (Cromatografia em Camada Delgada de Alta Eficiência) e CG-EM (Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada a Espectrometria de Massas). Os óleos essenciais foram obtidos por hidro destilação.Extratos etanólicos e óleos essenciais de Baccharis dracunculifolia e de própolis mostraram perfis cromatográficos similares entre si. Treze flavonóides foram identificados por CLAE-FR e CCDAE em ambas as amostras. Vinte e três compostos voláteis foram identificados por CG-EM, sendo dezessete deles presentes em ambos os óleos essenciais. Artepillin C foi o flavonóide encontrado em maiores concentrações em ambas as amostras, enquanto nerolidol foi o volátil majoritário em ambos os óleos essenciais. Os compostos majoritários identificados neste trabalho podem ser utilizados como marcadores químicos para classificar de forma prática e identificar origens botânicas de própolis. Palavras-chave: composição de óleos essenciais; Baccharis dracunculifolia; própolis; Alecrim do campo; flavonóides. AbstractEthanolic extracts and essential oils from Green Propolis from southeastern Brazil and leaf buds from its botanical origin Baccharis dracunculifolia were analyzed by Reversed Phase High Performance Liqui...

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