Antiproliferative effects of Tubi-bee propolis in glioblastoma cell lines

Abstract

Propolis is a resin formed by a complex chemical composition of substances that bees collect from plants. Since ancient times, propolis has been used in folk medicine, due to its biological properties, that include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral and immunomodulatory activities. Glioblastoma is the most common human brain tumor. Despite the improvements in GBM standard treatment, patients’ prognosis is still very poor. The aim of this work was to evaluate in vitro the Tubi-bee propolis effects on human glioblastoma (U251 and U343) and fibroblast (MRC-5) cell lines. Proliferation, clonogenic capacity and apoptosis were analyzed after treatment with 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL propolis concentrations for different time periods. Additionally, glioblastoma cell lines were submitted to treatment with propolis combined with temozolomide (TMZ). Data showed an antiproliferative effect of tubi-bee propolis against glioblastoma and fibroblast cell lines. Combination of propolis with TMZ had a synergic anti-proliferative effect. Moreover, propolis caused decrease in colony formation in glioblastoma cell lines. Propolis treatment had no effects on apoptosis, demonstrating a cytostatic action. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the antitumor effect of propolis, and the study of its individual components may reveal specific molecules with antiproliferative capacity.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of beebread, and its influence on the glioblastoma cell line (U87MG)

“…Effects of other apicultural products, especially, propolis and its compounds (e.g. CAPE, chrysin, propolin G), on the viability of glioma cell lines, was presented in a few publications (Guarini et al, 1992;Huang et al, 2007;Borges et al, 2011;Huang et al, 2011;Watanabe et al, 2011). We have found a time-dependent (from 24 to 72 h) decrement in a viability of U87MG cells treated each of EBB (Fig.…”

“…Researchers are seeking new substances that may reduce the viability of cancer cells, slow tumor growth, and extend life expectancy. Among the apicultural products, the anticancer activity of propolis and honey have been widely Borawska et al 148 Beebread-composition and antioxidant activity presented in various culture cell lines (Barbarić et al, 2011;Borges et al, 2011;Da Silva Frozza et al, 2012). However anticancer activity of beebread has not yet been analyzed.…”

The chemical composition and pharmacological activities of geopropolis produced by Melipona fasciculata Smith in northeast Brazil

“…Borges et al also observed the anti-proliferative action of propolis produced by Scaptotrigona spp. on human glioblastoma (U251 and U343) [9]. Previous findings of our group have shown that geopropolis exerted a cytotoxic action against canine osteosarcoma cells [10].…”

Antibacterial activity and phenolic content of propolis extracts obtained by different extraction methods

“…Furthermore, most of the biological activities of propolis have been attributed to these compounds, especially the flavonoids (Trusheva et al, 2006). A significant number of reports describe its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and hepatoprotective properties, as well as many other biological activities of propolis (Borges et al, 2011).…”