Compounds In Propolis Research Articles

Effect of propolis phenolic compounds on free fatty acid receptor 4 activation.

Propolis is known to have multiple biological and pharmacological properties including the regulation of energy homeostasis. Although phenolic compounds are considered to be the major active components in propolis, there is little information available about their mechanisms underlying the regulation of energy homeostasis. In this study, the effects of five phenolic compounds in propolis, chrysin, pinocembrin, galangin, pinobanksin, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) were evaluated on the activation of free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFA4), which are involved in the control of energy homeostasis by enhancing insulin signaling, increasing glucose uptake, and regulating adipogenesis. The results showed that three phenolic compounds exhibited the activation of FFA4, which were ranked in the order of pinocembrin, CAPE and pinobanksin in FFA4-expressing cells. These results suggest that some phenolic compounds in propolis, particularly pinocembrin, may affect the control of energy homeostasis via the activation of FFA4.

Assessment of the Mutagenicity of Propolis Compounds from the Brazilian Cerrado Biome in Somatic Cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Few information on the biological properties of the chemical constituents of propolis produced by Apis mellifera from the Cerrado of Midwest Brazil has hitherto been reported. In the present work, the mutagenic properties of five compounds isolated from a sample of brown propolis from the aforesaid biome, namely, caffeic ( 1 ), p-coumaric ( 2 ), dihydro-p-coumaric ( 3 ), and acetylisocupressic ( 4 ) acids, and aromadendrin ( 5 ) have been assessed by performing the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) on wing cells of Drosophila melanogaster, using standard (ST) and high bioactivation (HB) crosses. This is the first report of assessment of the mutagenic potential of 2 - 4 , and using the SMART assay for 5 . No mutagenicity was induced by 1 - 3 and 5 in the descendants from the ST and HB crosses at all evaluated concentrations. However, 1 and 2 , unlike 3 , were shown to be toxic to descendants of both ST and HB crosses. A structure-activity relationship established among 1 - 3 revealed that a C-7/C-8 unsaturation is responsible for the toxic effect of 2 compared to 3 , while an additional ortho-dihydroxy substitution at C-3 and C-4 confers to 1 the highest toxicity to D. melanogaster flies. Diterpene 4 proved mutagenic only after P450 activation, suggesting that it may act as a promutagen compound. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v11i5.1418

Benefits of superfine grinding method on antioxidant and antifungal characteristic of Brazilian green propolis extract

ABSTRACT: Green propolis is found only in Brazil and due to its important biological characteristics, the food industry views it as a rich source of bioactive compounds. However, an extract must be produced for its application, which is difficult considering the rigid characteristics of raw propolis. Superfine grinding, a process capable of reducing particle size, enables the extraction of most bioactive compounds in propolis. This study evaluated the influence of grinding on size characteristics, antioxidant and antifungal properties of Brazilian green propolis for food preservation. The propolis powder was produced through six different types of grinding (different sieves and rpm), and its quality was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. After grinding, extracts and bioactive assays were produced and the total phenolic content, antioxidant and antifungal capacity were determined. The data showed that the grinding process affected all the results of bioactive assays used. Treatment B (sieve 0.08 mm, 12,000 rpm) presented statistically significant values for the bioactivity assays and thus antifungal activity against Rhizopus stolonifer (doses 0-5 %) was tested only for the control (standardized size without superfine grinding) and treatment B. Both treatments showed antifungal activity, but the control provided more effective mycelial growth inhibition (lower dose 1 %). Superfine grinding increased the antioxidant activity, although this behavior was not observed in the antifungal assay. Despite these results, green propolis extracts present important biological effects that indicate their use as food preservatives to extend shelf life of food products.

Identification of Resveratrol as Bioactive Compound of Propolis from Western Romania and Characterization of Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Ethanolic Extracts.

The present study aimed to assess the phenolic content of eight ethanolic propolis samples (P1–P8) harvested from different regions of Western Romania and their antioxidant activity. The mean value of total phenolic content was 214 ± 48 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g propolis. All extracts contained kaempferol (514.02 ± 114.80 μg/mL), quercetin (124.64 ± 95.86 μg/mL), rosmarinic acid (58.03 ± 20.08 μg/mL), and resveratrol (48.59 ± 59.52 μg/mL) assessed by LC-MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2 methods: (i) DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay using ascorbic acid as standard antioxidant and (ii) FOX (Ferrous iron xylenol orange OXidation) assay using catalase as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenger. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was determined for all samples applied in 6 concentrations (10, 5, 3, 1.5, 0.5 and 0.3 mg/mL). IC50 varied from 0.0700 to 0.9320 mg/mL (IC50 of ascorbic acid = 0.0757 mg/mL). The % of H2O2 inhibition in FOX assay was assessed for P1, P2, P3, P4 and P8 applied in 2 concentrations (5 and 0.5 mg/mL). A significant H2O2% inhibition was obtained for these samples for the lowest concentration. We firstly report the presence of resveratrol as bioactive compound in Western Romanian propolis. The principal component analysis revealed clustering of the propolis samples according to the polyphenolic profile similarity.

The correlation between botanical source and the biologically active compounds of propolis

DOI : 10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2019.435408 In this research, five propolis samples collected from Turkey were investigated to observe the correlation between botanical sources and chemical contents of the samples and in this way emphasize the influence of botanical sources of propolis on its chemical characterization. As a first step, to determine the botanical sources of the samples, microscopic analysis was performed. According to the microscopic analysis results; two samples that were collected from Rize (P1 and P2), were characterized as most probably being chesnut propolis; while one sample collected from Tekirdag (P3) was evaluated as being a mixed type, in the other Tekirdag sample (P4), the pollens belonging to the taxa of the Brassicaceae family were found as dominant. The sample collected from Sivas (P5); was also recognized as mixed type. The second step of the research was the chemical analyses of the propolis samples. According to the results; the balsamic contents of the propolis samples ranged between 59.97 and 83.31%, total phenolic contents were ranged between 27.56±0.05 and 171.93±0.28 mgGAE/g. The minimum flavone and flavonol content of 0.28±0.01% was found in the P1 sample described as chesnut propolis and colected from Rize. The maximum value 5.1±0.07% was found in the P4 sample as was total phenolic content. Flavanones and Dihydroflavonols contents varied between 6.58±0.009-12.94±0.007%. According to the GC-MS results the investigated samples contained compounds belonging to the various groups. With regard to the Excel correllation, the balsamic content showed a negative correlation with total phenolic content, flavone and flavonol content, flavanones and dihydroflavonols content. Cite this article as : Gencay Celemli O, Atakay M, Sorkun K (2019). The correlation between botanical source and the biologically active compounds of propolis. Istanbul J Pharm 49 (2): 81-87.

Evaluation of the antioxidant profile and cytotoxic activity of red propolis extracts from different regions of northeastern Brazil obtained by conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction.

Propolis is a complex mixture of resinous and balsamic material collected from the exudates of plants, shoots, and leaves by bees. This study evaluated red propolis extracts obtained by conventional (ethanolic) extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction of six samples from different regions of northeastern Brazil. The total phenolic compounds and flavonoids, in vitro antioxidant activity, concentration of formononetin and kaempferol and the cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines were determined for all twelve obtained extracts. Significant variations in the levels of the investigated compounds were identified in the red propolis extracts, confirming that the chemical composition varied according to the sampling region. The extraction method used also influenced the resulting propolis compounds. The highest concentration of the compounds of interest and the highest in vitro antioxidant activity were exhibited by the extracts obtained from samples from state of Alagoas. Formononetin and kaempferol were identified in all samples. The highest formononetin concentrations were identified in extracts obtained by ultrasound, thus indicating a greater selectivity for the extraction of this compound by this method. Regarding cytotoxic activity, for the HCT-116 line, all of the extracts showed an inhibition of greater than 90%, whereas for the HL-60 and PC3 lines, the minimum identified was 80%. In general, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the antiproliferative potential when comparing the extraction methods. The results showed that the composition of Brazilian red propolis varies significantly depending on the geographical origin and that the method used influences the resulting compounds that are present in propolis. However, regardless of the geographical origin and the extraction method used, all the red propolis samples studied presented great biological potential and high antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the ultrasound-assisted method can be efficiently applied to obtain extracts of red propolis more quickly and with high concentration of biomarkers of interest.

Determination of biologically active phenolic compounds in propolis by LC–MS/MS according to seasons and altitudes

The present study aimed to determine the effect of season and altitude to amount and prevalence of phenolic compounds in propolis. For the aim, 174 propolis samples were collected from 58 stationary apiaries from altitudes of 0–200 m, 200–500 m and above 500 m in spring, summer, and autumn distributed in the Marmara region of Turkey. Ethanol-extracted propolis samples were analyzed by LC–MS/MS to determine nine flavonoids and seven phenolic acids. Significant differences were found in average levels of galangin, naringenin, pinocembrin, quercetin, luteolin, caffeic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, m-coumaric acid, and CAPE across the seasons and altitudes (P < 0.05). However, no differences were found levels of rutin, apigenin, kaempferol, ferulic acid and gallic acid (P < 0.05). Most of the significant differences were found between spring and autumn (10 differences). The prevalence of flavonoids was generally lower than phenolic acids. CAPE and pinocembrin had majority of the significant differences in phenolic compounds according to season and altitude. The prevalence of pinocembrin 100%, m-coumaric acid 99.4%, CAPE 99.4%, naringenin 99.4%, caffeic acid 98.9%, p-coumaric acid 98.3%, quercetin 96% and luteolin 95.4% were determined that dominant phenolic compound of Marmara Region of Turkey’s propolis. Furthermore, Salix spp. 75.8%, Quercus spp. 74.4%, Populus spp. 72.4%, and Pinus spp. 53.5% were mainly determined source of propolis around the apiaries. These results show that different sampling of seasons and altitudes effect chemical composition of propolis even from the same area. The study indicated that seasons and altitudes are important factors for standardization of propolis.

A Review on the Antimicrobial Activity of Propolis and its Synergy with Other Antimicrobial Compounds

The alarming increase in the development of drug resistant microbes and the decrease in the efficacy of numerous antibiotics have led to the rise in patient mortality and morbidity affecting various fields of medicine. To combat this development and or the improvement of drugs are paramount. Natural products have long been utilized in the treatment of diseases showing broad spectrum of activity against a wide range of pathogens. In this study, the potential application of propolis to combat drug resistant microbes is reviewed, highlighting the presence and diversity of bioactive compounds with focus on its antimicrobial activity against a number of drug resistant microbes and its synergistic properties with other antimicrobial compounds. It is hoped that this study would enable researchers to continue to analyse propolis compounds and its interactions with other antimicrobial compounds which ultimately paves the way for new drug development.

Propolis polyphenolic compounds affect the viability and structure of Helicobacter pylori in vitro

To evaluate the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of the major polyphenol compounds of propolis and their cellular damage, both as single molecule or in combination. Honey bees propolis were fractionated by using CPC and preparative HPLC. Four major polyphenols (chrysin, pinocembrin, galangin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester) were identified by thin layer chromatography–mass spectroscopy and liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy. These compounds inhibited both ATCC and clinical H. pylori strains, with caffeic acid phenethyl ester being the most active. The four compounds presented minimum inhibitory concentration in the range 256–1024μgml−1 and a fractional inhibitory concentration of 64–512μgml−1. In mixtures all compounds showed an indifference effect (FIC<0.15) but chrysin+galangin which was synergistic (FIC=2.0). Killing curves show a similar behavior as the antibiotic amoxycillin. On the other hand, analyses by transmission electron microscopy at sub inhibitory concentration show vesicle formation and cell lysis after exposition to both individual polyphenol compounds and in mixture. The major compounds of propolis show anti-H. pylori activity both as individual compounds and in mixture. When combined they present mainly indifference but exert a lytic activity upon H. pylori, suggesting a potential bactericidal activity of propolis.

PREDIKSI INTERAKSI MOLEKUER CAPE DENGAN IL-2, CD25, IL-10, CTLA-4, IDO, TGFβ, and CCL2 DENGAN SOFTWARE DOCKING MOLEKULER

The use of herbal medicine as a nutritious ingredient to treat various diseases is still mostly done traditionally based on hereditary information. The development of technology supports the exploration of natural materials as a nutritious material with various scientific evidences. The development of computational and bioinfrmatic technology simulates interactions between various active compounds and target molecules virtually commonly known as molecular docking, a virtual screening based on structure used to predict the interaction of three-dimensional structures of small molecules (compounds) with the target molecular structure. Propolis is a substance produced by bees from resins collected from plants and combined with wax and secretions from bee salivary glands which are rich in various enzymes. In the world of medicine, propolis has been used since time immemorial and until now it has been known that propolis can be a natural medicine with anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, antioxidant and immunomodulatory abilities. Molecular docking between one of the active compounds in propolis, namely caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) with various target molecules such as IL-2, CD25, IL10, TGFβ, CTLA-4, CCL21, and IDO using the DockingServer software provides information that CAPE has inhibitory activity against IL-2, CD25, IL-10, CTLA-4, IDO, TGFβ, and CCL2 so that it has the potential to be further developed as a candidate for immunomodulatory therapy.

Comparison of the Partition Efficiencies of Multiple Phenolic Compounds Contained in Propolis in Different Modes of Acetonitrile⁻Water-Based Homogenous Liquid⁻Liquid Extraction.

Homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (HLLE) has attracted considerable interest in the sample preparation of multi-analyte analysis. In this study, HLLEs of multiple phenolic compounds in propolis, a polyphenol-enriched resinous substance collected by honeybees, were performed for improving the understanding of the differences in partition efficiencies in four acetonitrile–water-based HLLE methods, including salting-out assisted liquid–liquid extraction (SALLE), sugaring-out assisted liquid–liquid extraction (SULLE), hydrophobic-solvent assisted liquid–liquid extraction (HSLLE), and subzero-temperature assisted liquid–liquid extraction (STLLE). Phenolic compounds were separated in reversed-phase HPLC, and the partition efficiencies in different experimental conditions were evaluated. Results showed that less-polar phenolic compounds (kaempferol and caffeic acid phenethyl ester) were highly efficiently partitioned into the upper acetonitrile (ACN) phase in all four HLLE methods. For more-polar phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, isoferulic acid, dimethoxycinnamic acid, and cinnamic acid), increasing the concentration of ACN in the ACN–H2O mixture could dramatically improve the partition efficiency. Moreover, results indicated that NaCl-based SALLE, HSLLE, and STLLE with ACN concentrations of 50:50 (ACN:H2O, v/v) could be used for the selective extraction of low-polarity phenolic compounds. MgSO4-based SALLE in the 50:50 ACN–H2O mixture (ACN:H2O, v/v) and the NaCl-based SALLE, SULLE, and STLLE with ACN concentrations of 70:30 (ACN:H2O, v/v) could be used as general extraction methods for multiple phenolic compounds.

Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity against Streptococcus mutans of Individual and Mixtures of the Main Polyphenolic Compounds Found in Chilean Propolis.

Dental caries is multifactorial disease and an important health problem worldwide. Streptococcus mutans is considered as a major cariogenic agent in oral cavity. This bacteria can synthetize soluble and insoluble glucans from sucrose by glucosyltransferases enzymes and generate stable biofilm on the tooth surface. Biological properties of Chilean propolis have been described and it includes antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibiofilm activities. The main goal of this study was to quantify the concentrations of main flavonoids presents in Chilean propolis and compare some biological properties such as antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of individual compounds and the mixture of this compounds, against S. mutans cultures. Chilean propolis was studied and some polyphenols present in this extract were quantified by HPLC-DAD using commercial standards of apigenin, quercetin, pinocembrin, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE). MIC for antimicrobial activity was determined by serial dilution method and biofilm thickness on S. mutans was quantified by confocal microscopy. Pinocembrin, apigenin, quercetin, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) are the most abundant compounds in Chilean propolis. These polyphenols have strong antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential at low concentrations. However, pinocembrin and apigenin have a greater contribution to this action. The effect of polyphenols on S. mutans is produced by a combination of mechanisms to decrease bacterial growth and affect biofilm proliferation due to changes in their architecture.

Effects of artepillin C on model membranes displaying liquid immiscibility.

It has been hypothesized that the therapeutic effects of artepillin C, a natural compound derived from Brazilian green propolis, are likely related to its partition in the lipid bilayer component of biological membranes. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of the major compound of green propolis, artepillin C, on model membranes (small and giant unilamelar vesicles) composed of ternary lipid mixtures containing cholesterol, which display liquid-ordered (lo) and liquid-disordered (ld) phase coexistence. Specifically, we explored potential changes in relevant membrane parameters upon addition of artepillin C presenting both neutral and deprotonated states by means of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and confocal and multiphoton excitation fluorescence microscopy. Thermotropic analysis obtained from DSC experiments indicated a loss in the lipid cooperativity of lo phase at equilibrium conditions, while at similar conditions spontaneous formation of unilamellar vesicles from SAXS experiments showed that deprotonated artepillin C preferentially located at the surface of the membrane. Time-resolved experiments using fluorescence microscopy showed that at doses above 100 µM, artepillin C in its neutral state interacted with both liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered phases, inducing curvature stress and promoting dehydration at the membrane interface.

English

Propolis extract is a resin collected by the bees and contains numerous active substances with a recognized pharmaceutical potential use. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of studies with the use of propolis as a food additive and the microencapsulation technology for incorporation of the product in food. Studies in Portuguese, English and Spanish were identified from online databases, Lilacs, Pubmed, Medline, Science Direct, Google Scholar/Google Academic, Bioline International, Springer Link, Vadlo and HighBeam Research. Studies published between 1979 and May 2018 that assessed the use of propolis as a natural food additive and microencapsulation technologies were included. The analysis showed that there are few studies about the use of propolis as a natural additive in food for human consumption, in spite of several authors bringing the importance of bioactive compounds of propolis. Based on this review, further studies are needed to cover the incorporation of propolis in food, considering its potential as a natural additive and its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It also shows the need for studies to enhance the technology of microencapsulation in order to preserve the characteristics of interest and mask those that may influence the foods acceptance. &nbsp; Key words: Additives, bioactive principles, food safety, propolis, microencapsulation.

In house validation of an HPLC-DAD method for the simultaneous determination of specific bioactive compounds in southern Brazilian propolis

The levels of selective bioactive compounds in propolis produced in the state of Paraná, Brazil, were compared with green (São Paulo and Minas Gerais), brown (Santa Catarina), and red (Bahia) propolis. The suitability of the HPLC-DAD method was checked: R2 > 99% and no evidence of lack-of-fit (p > 0.01); recoveries within 84.30–119.52% (only 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid recovery was higher, namely 138.77%); precision up to 11.76% (repeatability) and 14.56% (intermediate); LODs and LOQs of 0.74–3.02 µg/ml and 2.48–10.07 µg/ml, were achieved. p-coumaric and 4-hydroxy-3,5-diprenylcinnamic acids and kaempferide were widely spread in Brazilian propolis. Also, high levels of 3,5-di-caffeoylquinic and 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids were found in most propolis from Paraná and in green propolis; 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid was abundant in most propolis from Paraná but not in propolis from Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, and Bahia.En validación de un método de HPLC-DAD para la determinación simultánea de compuestos bioactivos en el propóleos Brasileño surLas concentraciones de compuestos orgánicos específicos y bioactivos presentes en el propóleos producido en el estado de Paraná fueron determinadas y comparadas con las del propóleos verde (São Paulo y Minas Gerais), marrón (Santa Catarina) y rojo (Bahia). La idoneidad del método HPLC-DAD fue verificada y fueron obtenidos los siguientes resultados: R2>99%, sin indicios de falta de ajuste (p > 0.01); recuperaciones entre 84,30-119,52% (solamente el ácido 3,4-di-O-cafeoilquinic tuvo recuperación de 138,77%); precisión de 11,76% (repetividad) y 14,56% (precisión intermedia); LD y LC de 0,74-3,02 µg/ml y 2,48-10,07 µg/ml. Los ácidos p-cumárico y 4-hidroxi-3,5-diprenilcinamico y flavonoides están en niveles altos en muchas muestras de propóleos colectadas en Paraná; principalmente la canferida está ampliamente distribuida en el propóleos encontrado en Brasil. Niveles altos de los ácidos 3,5-di-cafeoilquinico y 3,4-di-O-caffeoilquinico fueron encontrados en la mayoría de las muestras de propóleos del estado de Paraná y en el propóleos verde; el ácido 4-O-cafeoilquinico fue encontrado en altas concentraciones en el propóleos de Paraná pero no en el propóleos de los estados de Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina y Bahia.

Comparison of aqueous, polyethylene glycol-aqueous and ethanolic propolis extracts: antioxidant and mitochondria modulating properties

BackgroundPropolis is multicomponent substance collected by honeybees from various plants. It is known for numerous biological effects and is commonly used as ethanolic extract because most of active substances of propolis are ethanol-soluble. However, water-based propolis extracts could be applied more safely, as this solvent is more biocompatible. On the other hand, water extracts has significantly smaller range and quantity of active compounds. The extraction power of water could be enhanced by adding co-solvent which increases both solubility and penetration of propolis compounds. However, variation of solvents results in different composition of active substances that might have distinct effects. The majority of biological effects of propolis are attributed to the antioxidant properties of its active compounds. Antioxidant effect might be a result of either direct scavenging of ROS or modulation of ROS producing organelle activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate and compare chemical composition, antioxidant properties and effects on mitochondrial respiration of aqueous (AqEP), polyethylene glycol-aqueous (Pg-AqEP) and ethanolic (EEP) propolis extracts.MethodsChemical composition of propolis extracts was determined using HPLC and Folin-Ciocalteu method. Ability to neutralize H2O2 and intracellular ROS concentration in C6 glioma cells were determined fluorometrically by using 10-acetyl-3,7-dihydroxyphenoxazine and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate, respectively. Mitochondrial superoxide generation was assessed under fluorescent microscope by using MitoSOX Red. Oxygen uptake rates of mitochondria were recorded by high-resolution respirometer Oxygraph-2 k.ResultsOur data revealed that phenolic acids and aldehydes make up 40–42% of all extracted and identified compounds in AqEP and Pg-AqEP and only 16% in EEP. All preparations revealed similar antioxidant activity in cell culture medium but Pg-AqEP and EEP demonstrated better mitochondrial superoxide and total intracellular ROS decreasing properties. At higher concentrations, AqEP and EEP inhibited mitochondrial respiration, but Pg-AqEP had concentration-dependent mitochondria-uncoupling effect.ConclusionsAqueous and non-aqueous propolis extracts differ by composition, but all of them possess antioxidant properties and neutralize H2O2 in solution at similar efficiency. However, both Pg-AqEP and EEP were more effective in decreasing intracellular and intramitochondrial ROS compared to AqEP. At higher concentrations, these preparations affect mitochondrial functions and change energy production in C6 cells.

Mesoporous bioactive glass embedding propolis and cranberry antibiofilm compounds.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical reactivity of 58S mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) particles in as-synthesized condition and after embedding propolis and cranberry antibiofilm compounds at different concentrations. MBG 58S was synthesized by alkali sol-gel method with the addition of the triblock pluronic copolymer P123 as surfactant. Samples were characterized by physicochemical properties measurement, N2 adsorption/desorption analysis, and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEGSEM) observations. MBG powders were immersed into 5 and 10 µg/mL propolis or cranberry solutions for 24 h. The chemical reactivity of the specimens was evaluated by FEGSEM, EDX, FTIR, Ca/P ratio, XRD, and sample weight gain analysis after being immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 8, 24, and 72 h. MBG particles exhibited the expected chemical composition with a particle size distribution ranging from 1.44 to 955 µm, and a mean particle size of 154 µm. MBG particles exhibited a pore volume of 0.8 cc/g, pore radius of ∼2 nm, and surface area of 350.2 m2 /g, according to BJH and BET analyses. A hydroxyl-carbonate apatite (HCAp) layer was formed on all samples after SBF immersion for 72 h. Pure MBG showed the highest chemical reactivity after 72 h, with the resulting apatite layer exhibiting a Ca/P ratio of ∼1.6 in accordance to stoichiometric biological apatite. MBG embedding propolis and cranberry can be considered for future microbiological analysis since the presence of propolis or cranberry did not interfere with MBG's ability to develop a HCAp layer, which is an essential feature for bone regeneration applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1614-1625, 2018.

Rapid Bactericidal Action of Propolis against Porphyromonas gingivalis

Propolis, a resinous substance produced by bees, is used as a folk medicine for treatment of periodontal diseases. However, its mode of the action and the compounds responsible for its activities remain obscure. In the present study, we comprehensively investigated the antibacterial activities of ethanol-extracted propolis (EEP) and EEP-derived compounds toward Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone pathogen for periodontal diseases. Broth microdilution and agar dilution assays were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations of EEP against a range of oral bacterial species, of which P. gingivalis showed a higher level of sensitivity than oral commensals such as streptococci. Its antibacterial activity toward P. gingivalis was maintained even after extensive heat treatment, demonstrating a high level of thermostability. EEP also induced death of P. gingivalis cells by increasing membrane permeability within 30 min. Spatiotemporal analysis based on high-speed atomic force microscopy revealed that EEP immediately triggered development of aberrant membrane blebs, followed by bleb fusion events on the bacterial surface. Furthermore, we isolated artepillin C, baccharin, and ursolic acid from EEP as antibacterial compounds against P. gingivalis. Of those, artepillin C and baccharin showed bacteriostatic activities with membrane blebbing, while ursolic acid showed bactericidal activity with membrane rupture. In particular, ursolic acid demonstrated a greater ability to affect bacterial membrane potential with increased membrane permeability, probably because of its highly lipophilic nature as compared with other compounds. Taken together, these findings provide mechanistic insight into the antibacterial activities of EEP and its exquisite membrane-targeting antibacterial compounds and imply the applicability of narrow-spectrum therapeutics with EEP for treatment of periodontitis. In addition, the advanced technology utilized in the present study to visualize the nanometer-scale dynamics of microorganisms will contribute to expanding our understanding of the activities of antimicrobials and the mechanism of drug resistance in bacteria.

Chemical Constituents of Malaysian Apis mellifera Propolis

Propolis is a resinous material collected by honey bees from various plant sources. The chemical constituents differ depending on the source of vegetation area. To date, no study of the chemical constituents of Apis mellifera propolis from Malaysia has been reported. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the chemical constituents of Malaysian Apis mellifera propolis. Raw propolis samples were collected from Acacia mangium apiary from northern and southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia and were extracted using 70% ethanol. Then, the ethanolic extracts were evaporated and were lyophilized to dryness. The silylated compounds were identified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). The compounds were characterised by comparison with NIST02 and Wiley275 libraries. Twenty-six individual compounds were identified and β-panasinsene was identified for the first time in propolis. The main compounds identified from both southern and northern regions of Peninsular Malaysia were terpenoids. Terpenoids belong to an important class in the propolis compounds due to its valuable biological properties. The amount of terpenoids ranged from 7.19 to 11.46% indicating that although the main plant source for both regions was Acacia mangium, other shrubs and fruit orchards surrounding the two apiaries may differ which may contribute to the variations.

Propolis: Chemical Composition and Its Applications in Endodontics.

Introduction:The aim of this study was to review the chemical composition of propolis and its application in endodontics. Methods and Materials: For this purpose, keywords were searched on ScienceDirect, PubMed and World of Chemicals databases in order to find published papers from 1988 to February 2018. Results:There are many different compounds in propolis of different geographic regions; flavonoids are one of the most important agents which have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and antioxidant effects. According to the mentioned properties, propolis can be used as a canal irrigation solution as well as intracanal medicament in endodontic treatments. Studies have shown that propolis as a storage medium is capable of maintaining the vitality of the periodontal ligaments cells and also has the ability to inhibit osteoclastic activity due to one of the active compounds present in it. In vital pulp therapy, propolis can induce the production of tubular dentin and also decrease the inflammation of the pulp. Conclusion:Considering the propolis components like resin, pollen, vitamins, flavonoids and phenols; it can be used for various purposes in endodontics and would have a promising role in future medicine as well as dentistry.