Chemical Characterization, α-Glucosidase, α-Amylase and Lipase Inhibitory Properties of the Australian Honey Bee Propolis

Abstract

The use of functional foods and nutraceuticals as a complementary therapy for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes and obesity has steadily increased over the past few decades. With the aim of exploring the therapeutic potentials of Australian propolis, this study reports the chemical and biological investigation of a propolis sample collected in the Queensland state of Australia which exhibited a potent activity in an in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory screening. The chemical investigation of the propolis resulted in the identification of six known prenylated flavonoids including propolins C, D, F, G, H, and solophenol D. These compounds potently inhibited the α-glucosidase and two other enzymes associated with diabetes and obesity, α-amylase, and lipase on in vitro and in silico assays. These findings suggest that this propolis is a potential source for the development of a functional food to prevent type 2 diabetes and obesity. The chemical analysis revealed that this propolis possessed a chemical fingerprint relatively similar to the Pacific propolis found in Okinawa (South of Japan), Taiwan, and the Solomon Islands. This is the first time the Pacific propolis has been identified in Australia.

Extraction of flavonoids from durian (Durio zibethinus) fruit rinds and evaluation of their antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticancer properties

“…(2010) (83.33 μg mL −1 for α‐amylase assay) and of Uddin et al . (2022) (256.1 μg mL −1 for α‐glucosidase assay).…”

Flavonoids as dual-target inhibitors against α-glucosidase and α-amylase: a systematic review of in vitro studies

“…57,[89][90][91][92] In comparison with acarbose, this compound was a stronger inhibitor, regardless of the enzyme type employed. Propolin D (12), Propolin H (13), Propolin F (14), Propolin C (15), and Propolin G ( 16) are five geranylated flavanone aglycones derived from propolis of the Australian honeybees (Apis mellifera) reported by Uddin et al 88 In his study, the geranylation at either C2' or C3' position significantly enhanced the inhibitory activity of flavanone compounds against both enzymes. However, the geranylation or prenylation at the C6 position reduced such activity against αglucosidase but had less impact on the α-amylase inhibition manner.…”

“…Concerning α-amylase inhibition, this compound also exhibited strong inhibition against this enzyme with the IC50 values ranging from 6.20 to at most 121.50 µM. 39,46,88 The geranylation of naringenin at the C8 position forming 8-geranylnaringenin (10) was reported to enhance the inhibitory activity of this compound against both enzymes. 5 Eriodictyol (11), a C3' hydroxyl derivative of naringenin, was also reported in the literature for its ability to inhibit both enzymes.…”

“…106 Solophenol D (79) is a 2'-geranyl derivative of quercetin. In a study by Uddin et al (2022), 88 this compound displayed significant inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively, six times and four times more effective than acarbose.…”

Antiobesity effect of healthy food crops and functional foods: A systematic review of their mechanisms

“…Four other studies were in vitro experiments, and three were randomized controlled trials in humans. One research incorporated in vitro and in silico tests(Uddin et al, 2022), and another…”