Ethanol‐extracted Cameroonian propolis: Antiproliferative effects and potential mechanism of action in prostate cancer

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urological disease in men, affecting about 33% of men in their 60 years (De Nunzio et al., 2011). With regard to prostate cancer, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men after lung cancer (Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2018). BPH and prostate cancer are formed in different areas of the prostate and coexist in the same area only in 20% of cases (De Nunzio et al., 2011). They are considered as chronic diseases with early initiation and slow progression, and several risk factors are associated with them including obesity, poor diet, tobacco, radiation, environmental pollutants, lack of physical activity and ageing (Patel, 2016). The conventional therapy for BPH involves two main drug classes: alpha blockers and 5α-reductase inhibitors (Füllhase & Schneider, 2016), while chemotherapy and hormone therapy are utilised to fight against prostate cancer (Adsul et al., 2015). Unfortunately, these drugs are still limited because of their side effects, tumour resistance and high cost

The antimammary tumor effects of ethanolic extract of propolis from Adamawa region (Cameroon) are by apoptosis via reactive oxygen species‐mediated mitochondrial pathway

“…have been reported, however much is needed regarding their molecular mechanisms of action 18‐20 . Recently Zingue et al 21 reported the antiproliferative effects of the ethanol extract of Cameroonian propolis in the prostate but our survey revealed there has been no report on its effect against breast cancer yet. Given the differences that exist between etiology and treatment of breast and prostate cancers, this study was then undertaken to evaluate the antitumor effects of Cameroonian propolis and to elucidate its molecular mode of action on breast cancer models in vitro and in vivo .…”

“…The propolis (from Apis mellifera ) sample was harvested in November 2017 from hives in Meiganga (Adamawa region, Cameroon) and kindly provided by Professor Nestor‐Fernand Tchuenguem Fohouo (University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon). The ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) was prepared following previously described protocols 14,16,17,21 and kept dry at 4°C until use. Briefly, 100 g of propolis was dried in a shade, ground and soaked in 500 ml hydroethanol (70:30) for 24 h at room temperature.…”

Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Its Compounds

“…It is currently assumed that propolis and its components are reported to modulate cell cycle regulators like cyclin D, cyclin-dependent kinases Cdk-2/4/6, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, thereby arresting the progression of the cancer cell cycle (G2/M phase), as well as in stage G0/G1, by upregulating p21 and p27 expression [ 49 , 63 , 66 ]. Ethanol-extracted Cameroonian propolis increased the amount of DU145 and PC3 cells in G0/G1 phase, down-regulated cell cycle proteins (CDK1, pCDK1, and their related cyclins A and B) in both DU145 and PC3 cells, and CDK2 and pCDK2 proteins were down-regulated only in PC3 cells [ 67 ].…”

“…Apoptosis induction by propolis and its compounds coming from different geographical regions has been proven in many studies [ 19 , 55 , 59 , 61 , 67 , 79 , 82 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 ], while in this review, we want to focus strictly on the demonstrated molecular mechanisms of this process.…”

“…Numerous studies conducted in recent years have reported that propolis and its active compounds (CA, CAPE, artepillin C, nemorosone) inhibit the migration and invasion of cells of many types of cancer, including glioblastoma multiforme (U87MG), prostate cancer (Du145, PC3), breast cancer (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231), fibrosarcoma (HT1080), osteosarcoma (U2OS), lung cancer (A549), and colorectal cancer (HT-29, LoVo) [ 19 , 32 , 67 , 74 , 88 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 ].…”