Activity Of Propolis Research Articles

Green synthesis of propolis mediated silver nanoparticles with antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties and their burn wound healing efficacy in animal model

Developing an efficient and cost-effective wound-healing substance to treat wounds and regenerate skin is desperately needed in the current world. The present study evaluatedin vivowound healing andin vitroantioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory activities of propolis mediated silver nanoparticles. Extract of Bee propolis from northeast Punjab, Pakistan, has been prepared via maceration and subjected to chemical identification. The results revealed that it is rich in phenolic contents (88 ± 0.004 mg GAE ml-1, 34 ± 0.1875 mg QE ml-1) hence, employed as a reducer and capping agent to afford silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by green approach. The prepared nanoparticles have been characterized by UV-visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD). The propolis mediated AgNPs possess cubic face center with spherical shape and measured 50-60 nm in size. Moreover, propolis mediated silver nanoparticles have been studied for various biological activities. The results showed excellent antioxidant (0.4696 μg ml-1), anti-inflammatory (0.3996 μg ml-1) and antibacterial activities againstStaphylococcus aureus(MIC 0.462 μg ml-1) andProteus mirabilis(MIC 0.659 μg ml-1) bacterium. An ointment was prepared by mixing AgNPs with polymeric gels for burn wound treatment in rabbits. We found rapid wound healing and higher collagen deposition in AgNPs treated wounds than in control group. Our data suggest that AgNPs from propolis ameliorate excision wounds, and hence, these AgNPs could be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of burns.

Chemical Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Green Propolis from the Brazilian Caatinga Biome.

Green propolis, particularly from the unique flora of the Brazilian Caatinga biome, has gained significant interest due to its diverse chemical composition and biological activities. This study focuses on the chemical characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of Caatinga green propolis. Twelve compounds were isolated through different chromatographic techniques, including flavanones (naringenin, 7-O-methyleriodictyol, sakuranetin), flavones (hispidulin, cirsimaritin), flavonols (quercetin, quercetin-3-methyl ether, kaempferol, 6-methoxykaempferol, viscosine, penduletin), and one chalcone (kukulkanin B). Using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS), a total of 55 compounds excluding reference standards were tentatively identified, which include flavonoids, phenolic acids derivatives, and alkaloids, with flavonols, flavanones, and flavones being predominant. Antimicrobial testing against pathogens revealed that the crude extract exhibited low inhibitory activity, against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) (IC50: 148.4 and 120.98 µg/mL, respectively). Although the isolated compounds showed limited individual activity, a fraction containing sakuranetin and penduletin (Fraction 8) exhibited moderated activity against Cryptococcus neoformans (IC50: 47.86 µg/mL), while a fraction containing quercetin and hispidulin showed moderated activity against VRE (IC50: 16.99 µg/mL). These findings highlight the potential application of Caatinga green propolis as an antimicrobial agent, particularly against resistant bacterial strains, and underscore the importance of synergistic interactions between compounds in enhancing biological effects.

Chemical profile, antioxidant, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities of propolis from the stingless bee Tetragona clavipes.

Propolis is derived from plant resin and bees' salivary secretions, are commonly used in folk medicine. Studies on propolis from stingless bees have increased in recent years, highlighting their relevance due to the variety of species and the bioactive components. However, scientific records confirming these activities in species occurring in Brazil are still scarce. In that context, this study aims to determine the chemical profile and the antioxidant, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities of the stingless bees Tetragona clavipes propolis. The hydroalcoholic extract was prepared, and its chemical profile was determined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry combined with a direct infusion electrospray ionization. Total polyphenols and flavonoid content were determined by colorimetric methods. We determined the antioxidant activity by the ability to scavenge the free radicals 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid). The antifungal activity was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration against Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans, and Candida parapisilosis. The results revealed high contents of total phenolics and promising antioxidant and antifungal activities. T. clavipes propolis from the rainy season showed better antioxidant and antifungal activities and higher content of flavonoids, with less variability of chemical species. The extracts exhibited fungistatic activity for C. albicans, C. parapisilosis, and A. fumigatus and fungicide for T. rubrum. Additionally, a sample collected during the rainy season demonstrated synergism with fluconazole and amphotericin B for T. rubrum and additivity for C. albicans and C. parapisilosis. In summary, the results of T. clavipes propolis revealed elevated levels of total phenolics, indicating its potential as a rich source of bioactive compounds, significant antioxidant activity, and promising antifungal activity against common pathogenic fungi. These findings contribute to our understanding of the therapeutic potential of T. clavipes propolis and provide a basis for further research and development of natural products for various applications in medicine and healthcare.

Enzyme Inhibitory, Physicochemical, and Phytochemical Properties and Botanical Sources of Honey, Bee Pollen, Bee Bread, and Propolis Obtained from the Same Apiary.

Bee products are an important source of nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals. This study aimed to determine the chemical composition (proximate composition, general phytochemical composition, sugar, and phenolic profiles) of four different products (honey, bee pollen, bee bread, and propolis), obtained from the same apiary, as well as to assess their biological activity through antioxidant and enzyme inhibition assays (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, AchE, neuraminidase, angiotensin-converting enzyme, urease, trypsin, tyrosinase, carbonic anhydrase, thioredoxin reductase, adenosine deaminase). Clear differences were observed among the samples in terms of both chemical composition and biological activity. The analysis revealed that bee pollen exhibited the highest carbohydrate content (87.9%), while propolis was identified as the richest source of phenolic compounds (14,858.9 mg/kg) among the analyzed samples. Propolis exhibited the highest biological activity in all applied antioxidant assays (CUPRAC, DPPH•, and ABTS•+) and in most enzyme inhibition assays. Notably, the α-glucosidase inhibition activity of propolis was comparable to that of the reference standard. In addition, honey exhibited remarkable trypsin inhibition, also comparable to the applied standard. These findings highlight the diverse bioactivities of hive products, which could play a key role in promoting health and preventing diseases.

Chemical constituents and antibacterial activities of Cameroonian dark brown propolis against potential biofilm-forming bacteria

Propolis is a resinous material collected by different bee species from various plant exudates and used to seal holes in honeycombs, smoothen the internal walls, embalm intruders, improve health and prevent diseases. From its n-hexane extract, eight compounds were isolated and characterised as: mangiferonic acid (1); 1-hydroxymangiferonic acid (2), new natural product; mangiferolic acid(3); 27-hydroxymangiferolic acid (4), reported here for the first time as propolis constituent; 27-hydroxymangiferonic acid (5); α-amyrin (6); β-amyrin (7) and lupeol (8). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, such as 1D and 2D-NMR, mass spectrometry and comparison with previous published reports. Compounds 6-8 and n-hexane extract were tested against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria strains using agar disc diffusion and macrodilution techniques. Interestingly, n-hexane extract and compounds 6-8 had good inhibitory activities against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. The biological effects of n-hexane extract and its fraction against K. pneumoniae 12 CM and MRSA revealed in the present study suggest that the Cameroonian dark brown propolis could be a potential alternative management of biofilms on medical devices and respiratory skin or infections.

Determination of the Botanical Origin and Physicochemical Properties of a Propolis Sample Through an Integrated Methodology.

The growing interest in products of natural origin has led to the implementation of products such as propolis because they possess biological properties that are useful in the treatment of various ailments, so it is relevant to know the botanical origin of the physicochemical compounds that provide propolis with its biological properties. To identify the floral sources that provide resources to bees for the manufacture of propolis, several methodologies have been implemented, such as palynological analysis, which, through pollen content, has made it possible to identify the plant species that provide resources to bees. On the other hand, analysis of the physicochemical components of propolis has revealed that phenols and flavonoids are mainly responsible for the biological activity of propolis. Evaluation of the antibacterial and antifungal potential of propolis revealed the inhibitory potential of both Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria, as well as Candida albicans. However, all these investigations have been carried out individually and not always with the same sample. Therefore, the objective of this research was to design a methodology that allows the use of a single sample of propolis and uses sufficient resources for different research areas to evaluate most of the physical and chemical properties of propolis, as well as its botanical origin. With the implemented methodology, it was possible to obtain sufficient resources that provided results for each of the research areas, taking advantage of the propolis sample.

Developing and Characterizing a Biocompatible Hydrogel Obtained by Cross-Linking Gelatin with Oxidized Sodium Alginate for Potential Biomedical Applications.

The main goal of this research was to create biocompatible hydrogels using gelatin and a double cross-linking technique involving both covalent and ionic bonds to immobilize propolis. The covalent bonds were formed through Schiff base cross-links between protein-free amino groups (NH2) from the lysine residue and aldehyde groups (CHO) produced by oxidizing sodium alginate with NaIO4, while the ionic bonds were achieved using Mg2+ ions. Hydrogel films were obtained by varying the molar ratios of -CHO/-NH2 under different pH conditions (3.5 and 5.5). The presence of aldehyde groups in the oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) was confirmed using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The oxidation degree was monitored over 48 h, and the influence of temperature was examined. Results showed that higher -CHO/-NH2 molar ratios led to increased conversion index values of NH2 groups, and a decrease in swelling degree values was observed in mediums with pH values of 5.5 and 7.4. The encapsulation and release efficiency of propolis decreased with an increase in the hydrogel cross-linking degree. UV irradiation enhanced the antioxidant activity of both free and encapsulated propolis. These findings offer valuable insights for the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields into designing biocompatible hydrogels for propolis immobilization, with potential for controlled release.

Anti –Inflammatory Activity of Propolis Trigona sp. Water Extract from North Lombok with Red Blood Cell Membrane Stability Method

Propolis is a bee product that can be used as an anti-inflammatory. Cultivation of propolis-producing bees is also carried out in North Lombok. However, propolis has not been utilized optimally by the people of North Lombok. Apart from that, testing of North Lombok propolis is still limited to the chemical content and antioxidant activity of propolis extracted with ethanol solvent. Therefore, this study aims to determine the activity and effective concentration of North Lombok propolis water extract as an anti-inflammatory using the red blood cell membrane stability method. Groups include control groups such as positive control (diclofenac sodium), negative control (distilled water), and test groups (propolis water extract concentrations of 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25%, 27.5%, and 30%). In The first step human blood was centrifuged of human blood, and then part of the red blood cells (sediment) was taken and saline was added to obtain a red blood cell suspension. Next, mixing the test solution was carried out in the order of 0.5 ml of red blood cell suspension, then 0.5 ml of extract was added (0.1% w/v Na-diclofenac solution in the positive control, distilled water in the negative control), 1 mL of buffer solution and 2 mL of hyposaline solution, then homogenized. Each group was incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes, then centrifuged for 10 minutes at 3000 rpm. The supernatant was taken, and the absorbance was read with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 560 nm. Next, the percentage value of red blood cell hemolysis protection was calculated. The data obtained were tested statistically using One-way ANOVA and post-hoc (LSD) tests SPSS version 29. The results showed that propolis water extract concentrations were 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 25%, 27.5%, and 30% have anti-inflammatory activity because they can increase the stability of the red blood cell membrane with a percentage of hemolysis protection of respectively 57.92%, 59.99%, 60.99%, 61.99%, 64.31%, 69.59%, 75.07%, 79.77% and 84.45%. Propolis water extract concentrations of 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, and 25% had anti-inflammatory effects that were not significantly different from the positive control (p>0.05). The 27.5 % and 30% concentrations had a higher percent hemolysis protection value than the positive control (p<0.05).

In-Depth Phytochemical Profile by LC-MS/MS, Mineral Content by ICP-MS, and In-Vitro Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antiepilepsy, Anticholinergic, and Antiglaucoma Properties of Bitlis Propolis.

Propolis is very significant in terms of its phytochemical content and biological activity among bee products. In this study, the antioxidant activities (total phenolic and flavonoid, Fe3+, Cu2+ (CUPRAC), Fe3+-TPTZ (FRAP) reducing, and DPPH•, ABTS•+ scavenging assays) of propolis collected from the Bitlis province of Türkiye were determined. In addition, the carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes (hCA I and hCA II), α-glycosidase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition activity and phytochemical profile of propolis and mineral content were determined by LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS, respectively. In propolis, 31 phytochemicals were found, and the highest concentration of acacetin (23.604 mg/g) was detected. It is seen that the phytochemicals in propolis provide antioxidant properties. The mineral content was screened for 18 elements and determined to be rich in the elements that make up the salt content. Total phenolic content was 215.14 mg GAE/g, and total flavonoid content was 79.11 mg QE/g. The Fe3+ reduction result was 0.940 (µg/mL), CUPRAC 1.183 (µg/mL), FRAP 0.963 (µg/mL), DPPH• scavenging IC50: 16.7 (µg/mL), and ABTS IC50: 8.01 (µg/mL). hCA I enzyme inhibition results in IC50: 7.19 (µg/mL), hCA II 8.15, AChE 5.17, BChE 7.50, and α-Glycosidase 5.72. As a result of this study, it was determined that Bitlis propolis has high antioxidant properties and a rich phytochemical content. It was also observed that it is an effective enzyme inhibitor against epilepsy, glaucoma, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, which are important diseases, and it can be evaluated in the treatment of these diseases and drug production.

Phytochemical Characterization and Assessment of the Wound Healing Properties of Three Eurasian Propolis.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the wound healing potential of Eurasian propolis by analyzing the phytochemical profile and the biological effects of three representative propolis samples. Specific colorimetric assays were used to estimate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the triterpenoids content. Some of the main components of Eurasian propolis (pinocembrin, pinobanksin, CAPE, chrysin and galangin) were analyzed using HPLC-DAD. Scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity were assessed through DPPH and ORAC assays, respectively. Human keratinocyte, fibroblast, and monocytic cell lines were used for the biological in vitro analyses. The direct wound healing properties were tested through scratching assays and ELISA kits for the assessment of the production of growth factors (FGF-7, Latency Associated Peptide-LAP), while the indirect effects were evaluated through the estimation of the levels of MMP9, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α using ELISA kits together with a cell-free test on the inhibition capacity on collagenases. Network Pharmacology analysis was employed to further explore possible mechanisms of the action of propolis on the healing process. The analyses confirmed the high phenolic content of Eurasian propolis (142.50-211.30 mg GAE/g), dominated by flavonoids (95.50-196.80 mg Galangin Equivalents/g), and terpenes (431.50-650.00 mg β-sitosterol Equivalents/g), while also verifying the significant antioxidant (4.9-8.9 mM/g Trolox Equivalents) and antiradical (DPPH IC50 26.1-54.4 μg/mL) activities. The samples showed indirect wound healing properties by mitigating inflammation and remodeling (reduced IL-1β and MMP9) and potentially modulating the immune response (upregulated IL-8). In vitro studies confirmed these effects, demonstrating decreased MMP9 production and collagenase inhibition when cells were co-treated with propolis and a stressor. Propolis also suppressed IL-1β release in fibroblasts, although its impact on TNF-α was inconclusive. Notably, co-treatment upregulated IL-8 in monocytes, suggesting a potential immunomodulatory role. Eurasian propolis may not directly stimulate cell proliferation during wound healing. Its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties could indicate an indirect contribution in helping the process.

Antimicrobial Activity of Honey and Propolis from Alba County, Romania.

Investigating the quality of bee products obtained across different geographical regions and analyzing their antimicrobial activity is of significant interest to various scientific disciplines. This study focuses on comparing the antimicrobial activity of honey and propolis samples from different areas of Alba County, Romania. The quality parameters of five samples of two types of bee products (honey and propolis) were assessed. Then, the samples were tested to comparatively determine their antimicrobial properties against 12 species of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella anatum, Salmonella choleraesuis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Listeria monocytogenes) and 7 fungal strains (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata). Of the bacterial strains, the most sensitive to the action of honey samples were the two strains of Staphylococcus followed by P. fluorescens. The two strains of Pseudomonas and L. monocytogenes were the most sensitive to the activity of propolis. Of the fungal strains, F. oxysporum was the most sensitive to the actions of both honey and propolis, followed by P. chrysogenum in the case of honey samples and the two Aspergillus strains in the case of propolis. These findings indicate that bee products are rich sources of bioactive compounds exhibiting strong antimicrobial properties and significant potential for the development of new phytopharmaceutical products.

Antimicrobial activity of propolis agents on some pathogenic microbes

The study aims to investigate the antimicrobial activity of propolis obtained from different regions of Iraq compared with that of propolis obtained from Iran. Samples were investigated for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Eschericha coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus , Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans using standard antimicrobial assays. Marked variations in the antimicrobial activity of the different propolis samples were observed, the method of extraction selected gives the highest antimicrobial activity and the best alcohol concentration using in the extraction of propolis , then the crude extract of propolis showed synergistic effect with some antibiotics in inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms.

Healing Activity of Propolis of Stingless Bee (Scaptotrigona aff. postica), Reared in Monoculture of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea), in Induced Wounds in Rats.

Wound healing is a complex and coordinated process involving interactions between cells and various messenger systems. This study conducted in vivo tests to determine the healing effect of propolis (PR)-based cream derived from the Amazon stingless bee, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, reared in açaí (Euterpe oleracea) monoculture, on induced wounds in rats. Data were obtained by monitoring injuries on 14 Wistar rats, divided into three groups (G1, G2 and G3), each receiving specific treatments: propolis-based cream (PR), collagenase (PC) and neutral cream (NC). Over the seven days of treatment, the lesions were measured using photographic records and ImageJ software to evaluate the healing effectiveness of the test cream. ImageJ software version 1.53g was used to compare the wound diameters for each treatment. After seven days, histopathological analyses of the induced lesions were performed. It was observed that collagenase (PC) and the test cream (PR) did not differ significantly in terms of wound diameter reduction. However, the propolis-based cream directly influenced the lesion maturation process and exhibited a milder inflammatory response compared to the positive control (PC). This effect is possibly associated with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds identified by GC/MS analysis in the propolis. Notably, this is the first report describing propolis of Scaptotrigona aff. postica obtained from açaí monocultures with strong healing potential, highlighting the identification of a high concentration of phenolic compounds that aid directly in wound repair.

Propolis in Human Health: Unraveling Chemistry, Applications, and Efficacy

The paper explores the diverse aspects of propolis, a resinous substance created by bees from botanical sources, presenting a comprehensive overview of its chemistry, applications, and efficacy in human health. Propolis, colloquially known as "bee glue," serves as a versatile material in hive construction and defense against diseases and predators. Its chemical composition, influenced by geographic origins, comprises a myriad of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and more. The study delves into the pharmacological activities of propolis, emphasizing its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Propolis exhibits a direct correlation between its biological activity and the quality of its chemical constituents. The antioxidant activity, attributed to flavonoids, plays a crucial role in mitigating oxidative stress and associated chronic inflammation. Furthermore, the paper discusses the therapeutic potential of propolis in various health conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, COPD, and wound healing. In diabetes, propolis shows promise in reducing blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Its cardioprotective effects are linked to antioxidant compounds, addressing oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases. Propolis demonstrates anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects in respiratory conditions, providing potential relief for asthma and COPD patients. Additionally, propolis accelerates wound healing through its immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. In conclusion, propolis emerges as a natural resource with significant potential for human health, presenting a diverse array of bioactive compounds that contribute to its therapeutic efficacy across various medical conditions. The multifaceted nature of propolis makes it a subject of growing interest for further research and exploration in the field of medicine and healthcare.

Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activities of Propolis from Geniotrigona thoracica: Evaluating its Therapeutic Applications

Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activities of Propolis from Geniotrigona thoracica: Evaluating its Therapeutic Applications

Antimicrobial effectiveness of chestnut honey, pollen and propolis individually and in combination

The emergence of bacteria with antibiotic resistance and multiple resistance is characteristic of animal and human pathogens. It is wide known that bee products, which have been used in alternative medicine since ancient times, have antimicrobial potential. Application of bee products for therapeutic purposes is defined as apitherapy. The study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of commercial chestnut honey, pollen and propolis produced in western Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sanski Most) individually and in five combinations (apimixtures). The antimicrobial properties of samples were investigated using the agar well diffusion method against three Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii ATCC 6633, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212); three Gram-negative bacteria (ESBL producing Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis ATCC 13076, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027) and one fungal species (Candida albicans ATCC 10231). Pure bee pollen inhibited the growth of only Gram-negative bacteria, concentrated chestnut honey was active against all Gram-negative and Gram-positivebacteria, while 20% propolis extract and apimixtures A2 (80% honey and 20% propolis) and A3 (60% honey, 20% pollen and 20% propolis extract) inhibited the growth of all tested microorganisms. Chestnut honey andthree apimixtures (A1, A2 and A3) showed the highest antibacterial action against all tested Gram-negative bacteria and MRSA compared to other investigated samples. In this study, examined honeybee products from Bosnia and Herzegovina and their mixtures had significant activity against tested bacteria, including strains with proven resistance to conventional antibiotics, MRSA and ESBL producing E. coli.

Cytotoxicity Effect of Aqueous Propolis Extract of Geniotrigona thoracica Sumatrans on Colo-201 Colon Cancer Cell Line and Senescence Colo-201 Colon Cancer Cell Line Induced by Low-dose Doxorubicin

Propolis, a resinous compound honeybees produce, demonstrates an extensive spectrum of powerful biological properties. However, the anti-cancer activity of propolis derived from Geniotrigona thoracica Sumatrans has yet to be reported. Thus, we sought to investigate the cytotoxicity of aqueous propolis extracts from Geniotrigona thoracica Sumatrans against Colo-201 colon cancer cell line and senescence Colo-201 colon cancer cell line induced by low-dose doxorubicin. This study was conducted at the Parasitology Laboratory of Human, Safety, and Environment, Universitas Padjadjaran Bandung from January to May 2024. This study assessed cell viability using the WST-1 test. Non-induced Colo-201 cells were treated with an aqueous extract of propolis (AEP) 100 ppm, or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 5 mg/ml as the positive control or water as a vehicle on untreated control. Colo-201 senescence was induced by doxorubicin 0.1 µM for three days. Doxorubicin-induced Colo-201 senescence was then treated with AEP 100 ppm, with 5-FU 5 mg/ml as the positive control, or with the combination of AEP 100 ppm and 5-FU 5 mg/ml, or water as a vehicle on untreated control. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, a one-way ANOVA, and Tukey’s post hoc test. The results showed that AEP has cancer-killing effects on Colo-201 cells and Colo-201 senescent cells induced by low-dose doxorubicin. AEP-treated Colo-201 cells and Colo-201 senescent cells induced by low-dose doxorubicin viability were significantly reduced to 37.15% and 13.72%, respectively, although slightly higher than those of the 5-FU-treated one at this concentration. There was also a decrease in the cancer-killing effect of 5-FU from 88.55% in non-induced Colo-201 cells to 41.5% in the doxorubicin-induced Colo-201 senescence model. In conclusion, aqueous extract of propolis from Geniotrigona thoracica Sumatrans showed cancer-killing-effects both on the Colo-201 colon cancer cell line and senescence Colo-201 colon cancer cell line induced by low-dose doxorubicin.

Antioxidant activity of Zuccagnia-type propolis: A combined approach based on LC-HRMS analysis of bioanalytical-guided fractions and computational investigation

This study reports a combined approach to assess the antioxidant activity of Zuccagnia-type propolis. Fractions exhibiting the highest antioxidant activities evidenced by DPPH, a β-carotene bleaching and superoxide radical scavenging activity-non-enzymatic assays, were processed by LC-HRMS/MS to characterize the relevant chemical compounds. A computational protocol based on the DFT calculations was used to rationalize the main outcomes. Among the 28 identified flavonoids, caffeic acids derivatives were in the fraction exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity, with 1-methyl-3-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-propyl caffeic acid ester and 1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-propyl caffeic acid ester as major components. Results clearly showed roles of specific chemical motifs, which can be supported by the computational analysis.This is the first report ascribing the antioxidant ability of Zuccagnia-type propolis to its content in specific caffeic acid derivatives, a potential source of radical scavenging phytochemicals. The proposed protocol can be extended to the study of other plant-products to address the most interesting bioactive compounds.

Phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of Caucasian bee propolis at different locations, solvents, and temperatures.

Propolis is a natural substance produced by honey bees by processing the secretions collected from various plants with their own enzymes. Caucasian honey bee is one of the productive bee races known in the world and its homeland in Türkiye is Northeastern Anatolia. This study is the first comprehensive research to determine, compare, and correlate the effects of various solvents and temperatures on 17 different Caucasian bee propolis obtained from different locations in terms of phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The highest total polyphenol and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) in Caucasian bee propolis extracts varied between 23.37-97.62 mg gallic acid per gram (GA/g) of propolis and 6.73-43.75 mg quercetin per gram (Q/g) of propolis in ethanolic extract at 60°C. While ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) did not differ at both temperatures, the highest was determined in ethanolic extracts. Analyses of propolis samples according to locations did not show any significant differences in terms of TPC, TFC, and FRAP. By Pearson's correlation analysis, it was found that each of the extracts showed a positive correlation between TPC, TFC, and FRAP. As a result, it was revealed that the main difference in the phenolic content and antioxidant activities of propolis obtained from gene centers of Caucasian bee race was due to the polarity of the solvent used and temperature, and that there was no difference between locations within a single bee race. This pioneering study shows that Caucasian bee propolis has a high potential that can pave the way for different research in this field.

The Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial Activity of Propolis: A Review Article

The Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial Activity of Propolis: A Review Article