Abstract
BackgroundPropolis is a resin collected by bees from plant buds and exudates, which is further processed through the activity of bee enzymes. Propolis has been shown to possess many biological and pharmacological properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunostimulant and antitumor activities. Due to this bioactivity profile, this resin can become an alternative, economic and safe source of natural bioactive compounds.Antitumor action has been reported in vitro and in vivo for propolis extracts or its isolated compounds; however, Portuguese propolis has been little explored. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antitumor activity of Portuguese propolis on the human colon carcinoma cell line HCT-15, assessing the effect of different fractions (hexane, chloroform and ethanol residual) of a propolis ethanol extract on cell viability, proliferation, metabolism and death.MethodsPropolis from Angra do Heroísmo (Azores) was extracted with ethanol and sequentially fractionated in solvents with increasing polarity, n-hexane and chloroform. To assess cell viability, cell proliferation and cell death, Sulforhodamine B, BrDU incorporation assay and Anexin V/Propidium iodide were used, respectively. Glycolytic metabolism was estimated using specific kits.ResultsAll propolis samples exhibited a cytotoxic effect against tumor cells, in a dose- and time-dependent way. Chloroform fraction, the most enriched in phenolic compounds, appears to be the most active, both in terms of inhibition of viability and cell death. Data also show that this cytotoxicity involves disturbance in tumor cell glycolytic metabolism, seen by a decrease in glucose consumption and lactate production.ConclusionOur results show that Portuguese propolis from Angra do Heroísmo (Azores) can be a potential therapeutic agent against human colorectal cancer.
Highlights
Propolis is a resin collected by bees from plant buds and exudates, which is further processed through the activity of bee enzymes
The aim of this work was to assess and characterize the antitumor activity of a propolis sample collected in Angra do Heroísmo (Archipelago of Azores, Portugal) in a colon cancer cell line, including its effects on tumour cell glycolytic metabolism
We aimed to assess the antitumor activity of a fractionated Portuguese propolis sample collected in Angra do Heroísmo, an island of the Azores Archipelago, on HCT-15 colon cancer cell line
Summary
Propolis is a resin collected by bees from plant buds and exudates, which is further processed through the activity of bee enzymes. Propolis has been shown to possess many biological and pharmacological properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunostimulant and antitumor activities Due to this bioactivity profile, this resin can become an alternative, economic and safe source of natural bioactive compounds. Its chemical composition [6,20], antioxidant activity [13,20,21] and antitumor activity on renal cell carcinoma [13] have been studied on a few samples of some regions of Portugal These few studies revealed diversity in terms of chemical composition and biological properties, as well as the presence of some compounds never found in propolis from other origins [6], renewing the interest in studying this natural compound
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