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The present paper describes several individual cases of contact dermatitis in patients using propolis as a component of various cosmetic products, listing the most frequently sensitizing constituents of propolis. It also reports the existence of a cross-reaction between the components of Peruvian balsam and propolis constituents.
Pig meat was treated with 0.3% ethanol extracted propolis (EEP), 0.3% water extracted propolis (WEP), 0.4% dried residue of ethanol extracted propolis (DREEP) and 0.2% potassium sorbate (PS). The samples were stored for 8 weeks at 4, 10 and 20 degrees C, respectively. Volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) tests were carried out to measure the influence of temperature after 0, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The VBN value in 0.3% EEP pork sausages was the lowest for all treatments after 8 weeks of storage at 4 degrees C. The 0.3% EEP treatment was superior to the 0.2% PS treatment. This was due to the lower VBN of the former than that of the latter. Hence, EEP, WEP and DREEP can serve as good chemical preservatives of pork meat products and can contribute to promote human health because they are naturally produced.
Propolis has numerous biologic activities including antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Several components isolated from propolis have been shown to have anticancer activity. This study demonstrates that the compound PM-3 (3-[2-dimethyl-8-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)benzopyran]-6-propenoic acid) isolated from Brazilian propolis markedly inhibits the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. This effect was associated with inhibition of cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with PM-3 arrested cells in the G1 phase and resulted in a decrease in the protein levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin E. PM-3 also inhibited the expression of cyclin D1 at the transcriptional level when examined in cyclin D1 promoter luciferase assays. Induction of apoptosis by PM-3 occurred within 48 hours after treatment of MCF-7 cells. The MCF-7 treated cells also displayed a decrease in the level of the estrogen receptor (ER) protein and inhibition of estrogen response element (ERE) promoter activity. Therefore, PM-3 merits further investigation with respect to breast cancer chemoprevention or therapy.
Ethanolic extract of propolis was administered to rats intoxicated by carbon tetrachloride. Administration of bolus dose of CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg, ip) resulted in elevation of serum transaminases and serum alkaline phosphatase activities. Levels of hepatic lipid peroxidation were significantly increased. On the contrary, there was significant decrease in hepatic reduced glutathione level. The propolis extract (100 and 200 mg/kg, po) exhibited recoupment in both pre- and post-treatment (prophylactic and curative studies) of biochemical changes induced by CCl4. The post treatment of 200 mg/kg, po extract showed most significant hepatoprotective effect. Histopathological studies showed damage in hepatocytes and disturbed chord arrangement after toxicant administration. Propolis extract (200 mg/kg, po) was found to be more effective in restoring CCl4 induced histopathological alterations.
OBJECTIVE: To study on HPLC fingerprint of Propolis and to control it's quality. METHOD: The chromatographic fingerprints of seven samples from different producing areas were determined by RP-HPLC. RESULT: The chromatograms of Propolis from different producing areas were very similar. CONCLUSION: The quality of Propolis can be controlled by determination the HPLC fingerprint.
Several UV-absorbing substances inhibiting the DNA-dependent RNA polymerases of Escherichia coli and Streptomyces aureofaciens, as well as the restriction endonuclease Eco RI have been isolated from the water-soluble extract of Propolis by two-dimensional paper chromatography. The inhibition of bacterial RNA-polymerases by the components of Propolis was probably due to the loss of their ability to bind to DNA. The general characteristic of the UV-absorbing component of Propolis with the most pronounced inhibitory effect upon transcription in vitro is described.
Since many years ago are known curative effects of propolis on different lesions due, mainly, to more than 30 biologically active elements isolated from it. It is a wordly accepted opinion that propolis is one of the most useful substances elaborated by bees. Despite it, its use in our country is relatively recent. Several investigators, specially in Matanzas, study curative effects of propolis in the field of human and animal medicine. In other countries it has been used in stomalogy, but we have no knowledge about its therapeutical effects in the periodontal disease or its effectiveness in oral ulcers. Therefore, a therapeutical form has been elaborated, which is provisionally called Propolan, for the treatment of two entities: chronic gingivitis and stomatitis of different etiology. The clinical cases supporting effectiveness found with the treatment applied in our setting are presented.
The activity of propolis and its combinations with antibiotics against antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus was studied. It was found that staphylococcae strains resistant to benzylpenicillin, tetracycline and erythromycin were mainly sensitive to propolis. It is concluded that there was synergism in the effect of propolis and antibiotics with respect to antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
Propolis is a natural product produced by the honey bee. The extract contains amino acids, flavanoids, terpenes and cinnamic acid derivatives. In various in vitro models propolis extract was shown to inhibit platelet aggregation and to inhibit eicosanoid synthesis, suggesting that it might have potent antiinflammatory properties. A 13% aqueous extract was tested orally in three dose levels (1, 5 and 10 ml/kg) on the carrageenan rat paw oedema model and on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. In both models, the extract showed potent dose-related antiinflammatory activity, which compared well with that of diclofenac (as a reference standard). The extract was then tested on an isolated sensitized guinea pig lung preparation to study its effect on the release of prostaglandins, leukotrienes and histamine. It is concluded that propolis extract has potent antiinflammatory properties in vivo. Its activity can be well correlated with its effects on the release of various mediators of inflammation.
The authors conducted a single blind, placebo controlled local therapy trial on a total of 190 patients involving the use of materials (i) topically and (ii) by iontophoresis for pain and/or inflammation of the organs of movement. The materials used comprised of the following: (i) purified propolis and propolis saturated with antiinflammatory trace metal elements and (ii) propolis saturated with trace metal elements and poplar bud ointment saturated with trace metal elements also. Both methods of application using all the three preparations significantly improved symptoms. The preparations saturated with metallic ions were more effective. The mild effect of the placebo treatment is explained by the treatment procedure itself. Side effects were not observed.
Whole body exposure to gamma radiation has been experimentally shown to exaggerate inflammatory responses and to enhance the release of mediators. A thirteen per cent aqueous extract of propolis (bee glue) was previously shown to have potent antiinflammatory activity. The present study was carried out to show whether the extract could influence the exaggerated inflammatory response in irradiated animals. Rats were exposed to acute (2 and 6 Gy) & fractionated (1 Gy/week) doses of gamma ionizing radiation. Treatment with the aqueous extract orally (5 ml/kg) before and after radiation exposure markedly reduced the exaggerated paw oedema response to carrageenan. In the acute phase of adjuvant-induced arthritis, exposure to ionizing radiation caused an increase in serum acid phosphatase level. Malondialdehyde concentration in plasma and superoxide dismutase activity in blood significantly increased. Treatment with aqueous propolis extract prior to irradiation reduced malondialdehyde concentration in plasma and normalized the serum acid phosphatase level. The extract stimulated the release of superoxide dismutase enzyme. Aqueous propolis extract could possibly be of therapeutic value in protecting against inflammatory responses induced by gamma radiation.
Propolis is a resinous material gathered by honey bees from the buds and bark of certain trees and plants, and used inside their hives. Characteristic components of propolis are many kinds of flavonoid aglycones. The methanol extract of a Brazilian propolis was fractionated by HPLC, and a tumoricidal substance was isolated and characterized as a new clerodane diterpenoid (PMS-1) with a molecular formula of C20H32O3 (MW: 320). We investigated the effects of PMS-1 on skin tumorigenesis and the development of skin tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene application on mouse back skin. It was tentatively concluded that PMS-1 reduced the incidence of skin tumors by inhibition of DNA synthesis in a de novo pathway, and suppressed the growth of the tumors by decreasing DNA synthesis in a salvage pathway.
In a new propolis type, red Brazilian propolis, 14 compounds were identified (six of them new for propolis), among them simple phenolics, triterepenoids, isoflavonoids, prenylated benzophenones and a naphthoquinone epoxide (isolated for the first time from a natural source). Three of the major components demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, and two (obtained as inseparable mixture) possessed radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis from honeybee hives, is known to have antimitogenic, anticarcinogenic, antinflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. The paper describes a rapid and simple liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry method for qualitative and quantitative determination of CAPE. The chromatographic separation was performed with a Luna RP-C18 column using a water-acetonitrile linear gradient. The method was linear over a 0.125-80 ng/mL range (LOD = 62.5 pg/mL). The method was applied for the quantitation of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in crude propolis samples, which were analysed directly after extraction with ethyl acetate solution.
The effects of ethanolic extract (EEP) of propolis on chronic inflammation were evaluated using rat adjuvant arthritis. In the chronic inflammatory animal model, the arthritis index was suppressed by EEP treatments (50 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.). Moreover, physical weakness, induced by the chronic disease state, was dose-dependently improved in the EEP-treated groups. Its analgesic effect, assessed using the tail-flick test, was comparable to prednisolone (2.5 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg/kg/day, p.o.). In carrageenan rat hind paw edema, which was conducted to test the effects of subfractions of EEP, the petroleum ether sub-fraction (100 mg/kg, p.o.) showed an inhibitory effect on the paw edema whereas EEP (200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect at 3 and 4 hrs after carrageenan injection. From these results, we conclude that the ethanolic extract of propolis had a profound anti-inflammatory effects on both chronic and acute inflammations.
Monocytes and macrophages play a major role in defense mechanism of the host response to tumor, in part through the secretion of several potent products and macrophage cytokines. Monocytes and tissue macrophages produce at least two groups of protein mediators of inflammation, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Recent studies emphasizes that TNF and IL-1 modulate the inflammatory function of endothelial cells, leukocytes, and fibroblasts. In this study, our work is directed toward studying the in vitro effects of Korean propolis on the ability to induce cellular and secretory responses in murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. It was found that Water Extract of Korean Propolis (WEP) could activate macrophages by producing cytokines. The production of the macrophage cytokines, IL-1 and TNF-alpha, by RAW 264.7 treated with WEP was examined from 2.5 microg/ml up to 25 microg/ml with dose dependent manner. Nitric oxide (NO) production was also increased when cells were exposed to combination of LPS and WEP from 2.5 microg/ml up to 25 microg/ml. At high dose of WEP (50 to 100 microg/ml) used to prescribe for anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine showed inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated macrophage. Besides cytokine production, NO release, surface molecule expression and cell morphologic antigen expression were increased in response to the stimulation by WEP. These results suggested WEP may function through macrophage activation.
Propolis has strong antioxidative activity. We investigated here whether this activity was available in intestinal Caco-2 and hepatic HepG2 cells. Phenolics in Brazilian propolis, extracted with ethyl acetate after the removal of resin and wax with 90% methanol, included artepillin C at 21 mmol/100 g, p-coumaric acid and cinnamic acid relatives 24mmol, kaempferol and its derivatives 9.4 mmol, naringenin 2.8 mmol, isosakuranetin 0.9 mmol, chrysin at 0.8 mmol/100 g, and several minor components. When the extract was added to the apical side of Caco-2 monolayers, artepillin C was specifically incorporated into the cells and released to the basolateral side mostly without conjugation. Then, artepillin C was added to HepG2 cells and exposed to reactive oxygens. Artepillin C prevented oxidative damage dose-dependently, and suppressed lipid peroxidation evaluated with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances by 16% and the formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA by 36% at a concentration of 20microM. Artepillin C is a bioavailable antioxidant.
We had demonstrated that two prenylflavanones, propolin A and propolin B, isolated and characterized from Taiwanese propolis, induced apoptosis in human melanoma cells and significantly inhibited xanthine oxidase activity. Here, we have isolated a third compound called propolin C. The chemical structure of propolin C has been characterized by NMR and HRMS spectra, and was identical to nymphaeol-A. However, no biological activities of this compound have ever been reported. In the present study, propolin C effectively induced a cytotoxic effect on human melanoma cells, with an IC(50) of about 8.5 microM. DNA flow cytometric analysis indicated that propolin C actively induced apoptosis in human melanoma cells and there is a marked loss of cells from the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. To address the mechanism of the apoptosis effect of propolin C, we evaluated the effect of propolin C on induction of apoptosis-related proteins in human melanoma cells. The levels of procaspase-8, Bid, procaspase-3, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase were decreased in dose- or time course-dependent manners. Moreover, propolin C was capable of releasing cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol. The findings suggest that propolin C may activate a mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway. On other hand, propolin C is a potential antioxidant agent and shows a strong capability to scavenge free radicals and inhibit on xanthine oxidase activity with IC(50) of about 17.0microM. In conclusion, the isolation and characterization of propolin C from bee propolis are described for the first time, and this compound is a powerful inducer of apoptosis in human melanoma cells.