In Vitro Cytotoxic Effect of Brazilian Green Propolis on Human Laryngeal Epidermoid Carcinoma (HEp‐2) Cells

Abstract

Propolis is a sticky dark-colored material showing a very complex chemical composition that honeybees collect from plants. It has been used in folk medicine since ancient times, due to several biological properties, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities, among others. Its antitumor action in vivo and in vitro has also been reported, using propolis extracts or its isolated compounds. The goal of this work was to evaluate propolis's cytotoxic action in vitro on human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma (Hep-2) cells. These cells were incubated with different concentrations of this bee product for different time periods, and morphology and the number of viable HEp-2 cells analyzed. Data showed that propolis exhibited a cytotoxic effect in vitro against HEp-2 cells, in a dose- and time-dependent way. Propolis solvent had no effects on morphology and number of viable cells, proving that the cytotoxic effects were exclusively due to propolis components. Since humans have been using propolis for a long time, further assays will provide a better comprehension of propolis's antitumor action.

Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze: A Review

“…This compound was already detected in the seeds [9] and in the propolis [39], whereas benzoic acid ( Figure 5F) was identified in the bark [12], and also in the propolis [39]. Exudate from leaves presents p-coumaric acid [43], which was also found in the propolis [10] along with dihydrocinnamic, ferulic and caffeic acids [38]. Some other phenolic acids, including protocatechuic acid (9.1 μg/mL) and ester derivatives of chlorogenic acid (7.9 μg/mL), were quantified in A. angustifolia propolis along with minor amounts (<1.8 μg/ mL) of p-coumaric, syringic, vanillic, caffeic and ferulic acids [39].…”

“…Cordenunsi et al [6] described that, in the seed, phenolic compounds can migrate Propolis Ethanol TLC/CG/CG-MS 5,6,7-trihydroxy-3,4'-dimethoxyflavone P , kaempferid P , aromadendrine-4'-methyl ether P , E and Z 2,2-dymethyl-6-carboxyethenyl-8-prenyl-2H-benzopyranes P , dihydrocinnamic acid P , p-coumaric acid P , ferulic acid P , caffeic acid P and di-and triterpenes T [38] Propolis Ethanol/water HPLC/UV spectrophotometry/NMR Quercetin P , rutin P , gallic acid P , protocatechuic acid P , chlorogenic acid P and its esther derivates, p-coumaric acid P , syringic acid P , vanillic acid P , caffeic acid P and ferulic acids P [39] Resin (knot) Chloroform/methanol TLC/ 1 H and 13 C NMR Hinokiresinol P , cryptoresinol P , secoisolariciresinol P , isolariciresinol P , pinoresinol monomethyl ether P , 2,3-bis-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-cyclopentene-1-one P and 4,4'-dihydroxychalcone P [11] Resin (wood) Dichloromethane/ methanol GC/MS Lignans P , 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde P , hydroquinone P , p-coumaric acid P , ferruginol diterpene T [10] Seedling stages Ethanol TLC/MS/NMR E and Z octadecyl ferulate P , biflavones P , benzaldehydes P and its derivates, vanillin P , pinoresinol P , eudesmin P , lariciresinol P , cabreuvine P , irisolidone P and diterpenes T Analysis Methods: gas chromatography (GC); liquid chromatography (LC); thin layer chromatography (TLC); high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC); high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS); multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM); mass spectrometry (MS); nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR); not described (ND).…”

“…Diterpenes were also identified in the wood resin [10]. Besides resin, propolis contain terpenic compounds mostly di-and triterpenes [38]. Steroids and terpenoids were also identified in A. angustifolia leaves [16] and bark, mainly the steroid sitosterol ( Figure 5I) and the diterpene sugiol ( Figure 5J) [50].…”

Chemoprevention with green propolis green propolis extracted in L-lysine versus carcinogenesis promotion with L-lysine in N-Butyl-N-[4-hydroxybutyl] nitrosamine (BBN) induced rat bladder cancer

“…Among the most promising is the anticarcinogenic action of its constituents, some of which have been tested in laboratory animals and human cell culture [8][9][10] .…”

Combined effect of viscous dissipation and thermal radiation on fluid flows over a non-linearly stretched permeable wall

“…Unfortunately, most of chemical radioprotectors (AET, WR 2721, WR 1065) have shown toxic side effects that limit their use in medical practice [4]. Propolis has shown protect against the induction of apoptosis by radiation; since it is an imunomodulator, it has antioxidative and cytotoxic activities, antitumor activities, and scavenges free radicals produced by the indirect effect of ionizing radiation [2,[7][8][9][10][11][12]. Moreover, several reports have demonstrated the ability of EEP to protect mice against gamma irradiation preventing exaggerated inflammatory response [9], promoting high survival in mice [10], protecting their whole blood cells, and also diminishing primary DNA damage in mice [4,13].…”