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Viscidone (0.5%), vanillin, 3',4'-(methylendioxy)acetophenone, 3-ethoxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, cinnamic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymethyl ester were isolated from propolis of hives from Cuncumen. This is the first report on propolis composition of an arid and a Mediterranean type climate area.
Propolis has been extensively used in folk medicine for the management of a wide spectrum of disorders. In a previous study, we demonstrated the protective effect of the aqueous propolis extract (APE) against the injurious effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on hepatocytes in vitro. The present investigation was carried out to show whether the hepatoprotective effect of the extract could also be manifested in vivo. Rats were given APE orally for 14 consecutive days, before being subjected to a single intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. One day after the CCl4 injection, the animals were sacrificed, hepatocytes were isolated and liver homogenates were prepared for the assessment of liver injury. In isolated hepatocytes, APE afforded protection against CCl4-induced injury as manifested by a decrease in the leakage of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), decreased generation of lipid peroxide and maintenance of cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) content. In principle, similar findings were observed in liver homogenates. The present findings show that APE has in vivo hepatoprotective potential which could be attributed at least in part to the maintenance of cellular GSH content. The latter effect seems to play an important role in conserving the integrity of biomembranes as it was associated with a decrease in lipid peroxidation and reduced leakage of cytosolic LDH.
Ten propolis samples from Bulgaria, Italy and Switzerland were analyzed by GC-MS. As expected, most samples displayed the typical chemical pattern of "poplar" propolis: they contained pinocembrin, pinobanksin and its 3-O-acetate, chrysin, galangin, prenyl esters of caffeic and ferulic acids. Two samples differed significantly: one from the Graubünden Alpine region, Switzerland, rich in phenolic glycerides, and one from Sicily which contained only a limited number of phenolics and was rich in diterpenic acids.
Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by bees from tree exudates and secretions. Its antimicrobial activity has been investigated and inhibitory action on Staphylococcus aureus growth was evaluated. The in vitro synergism between ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and antimicrobial drugs by two susceptibility tests (Kirby and Bauer and E-Test) on 25 S. aureus strains was evaluated. Petri dishes with sub-inhibitory concentrations of EEP were incubated with 13 drugs using Kirby and Bauer method and synergism between EEP and five drugs [choramphenicol (CLO), gentamicin (GEN), netilmicin (NET), tetracycline (TET), and vancomycin (VAN)] was observed. Nine drugs were assayed by the E-test method and five of them exhibited a synergism [CLO, GEN, NET, TET, and clindamycin (CLI)]. The results demonstrated the synergism between EEP and antimicrobial drugs, especially those agents that interfere on bacterial protein synthesis.
Propolis has shown activity against pathogenic microorganisms that cause diseases in humans and animals. The ethanol (Et-Blg) and acetone (Ket-Blg) extracts from a Bulgarian propolis, with known chemical compositions, presented similar activity against tissue culture-derived amastigotes. The treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected skeletal muscle cells with Et-Blg led to a decrease of infection and of the intracellular proliferation of amastigotes, while damage to the host cell was observed only at concentration 12.5 times higher than those affecting the parasite. Ultrastructural analysis of the effect of both extracts in epimastigotes revealed that the main targets were the mitochondrion and reservosomes. Et-Blg also affected the mitochondrion-kinetoplast complex in trypomastigotes, offering a potential target for chemotherapeutic agents.
The present study assessed the susceptibility of Candida albicans strains, collected from HIV-positive patients with oral candidiasis, to a commercial 20% ethanol propolis extract (EPE) and compare it to the inhibitory action of the standardized antifungal agents nystatin (NYS), clotrimazole (CL), econazole (EC), and fluconazole (FL). Twelve C. albicans strains collected from HIV-positive patients with oral candidiasis were tested. The inhibition zones were measured with a pachimeter and the results are reported as means and standard deviation (M +/- SD). Data were analyzed statistically by the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. EPE inhibited all the C. albicans strained tested. No significant difference was observed between the results obtained with NYS and EPE, while significant differences were observed between EPE and other antifungals. The C. albicans strains tested showed resistance to the remaining antifungal agents. The propolis extract used in this study inhibited the in vitro growth of C. albicans collected from HIV-seropositive Brazilian patients, creating/forming inhibition zones like those ones formed by NYS. This fact suggests that commercial EPE could be an alternative medicine in the treatment of candidiasis from HIV-positive patients. However, in vivo studies of the effect of EPE are needed to determine its possible effects on the oral mucosa.
The reactions of isoprenyl caffeate, the strongest allergen known to be present in propolis, with plausible functional groups of proteins were studied. The thiols glutathione and cysteine, which add to isoprenyl caffeate after having been oxidised to the corresponding quinone, served as model substances. The structure of the thiol adducts was determined by spectroscopic methods, addition being found to occur at C-2. The results support the hypothesis that the catecholic propolis hapten is a pro-hapten that forms a complete antigen after oxidation to caffeate quinone and addition to nucleophilic groups of proteins.
Vegetables and fruit help the prevention and the therapy of several kinds of cancer because they contain micronutrients, a class of substances that have been shown to exhibit chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities. In the present study the effects of resveratrol (100 and 200 microM), a phytoalexin found in grapes, and of the ethanolic extract of propolis (50 and 100 microg/ml), a natural honeybee hive product, were tested in androgen-resistant prostate cancer cells (DU145), a cell line resembling the last stage of prostate carcinoma. A comparison between the activity of these micronutrients and vinorelbine bitartrate (Navelbine), a semi-synthetic drug normally used in the therapy of prostate cancer, was conducted. Several biochemical parameters were tested, such as cell viability (MTT assay), cell membrane integrity (lactate dehydrogenase release), cell redox status (nitric oxide formation, reactive oxygen species production, reduced glutathione levels), genomic DNA fragmentation (COMET assay) with special attention on the presence of apoptotic DNA damage (TUNEL test), and possible mitochondrial transmembrane potential alteration (deltapsi). Our results point out the anticancer activity of resveratrol and propolis extract in human prostate cancer, exerting their cytotoxicity through two different types of cell death: necrosis and apoptosis, respectively. The data obtained suggest the possible use of these micronutrients both in alternative to classic chemotherapy, and in combination with very low dosage of vinorelbine (5 microM).
Artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) is an active ingredient of Brazilian propolis that possesses anti-tumor activity. When Artepillin C was applied to human leukemia cell lines of different phenotypes, namely, lymphocytic leukemia (7 cell lines of T-cell, 5 cell lines of B-cell), myeloid and monocytic leukemia and non-lymphoid non-myeloid leukemia cell lines in vitro, Artepillin C exhibited potent cytocidal effects and induced marked levels of apoptosis in all the cell lines. The most potent effects were observed in the T-cell lines. Apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation were induced in the cell lines after exposure to Artepillin C. DNA synthesis in the leukemia cells was clearly inhibited and disintegration of the cells was confirmed microscopically. Apoptosis of the leukemia cells may be partially associated with enhanced Fas antigen expression and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. In contrast, although Artepillin C inhibited the growth of pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated normal blood lymphocytes, it was not cytocidal to normal unstimulated lymphocytes. These results suggested that Artepillin C, an active ingredient of Brazilian propolis, has anti-leukemic effects with limited inhibitory effects on normal lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE: To separate and identify the active flavonoids from Beijing Propolis. METHOD: The flavonoids were isolated by column chromatography with silica gel and polyamide, purified with Sephadex LH-20, and elucidated on the basis of NMR, MS, UV, IR and CD spectra. RESULT: Six kinds of flavonoids were obtained and elucidated as I: pinostrobin, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-flavanone; II: pinocembrin, 5, 7-dihydroxy-flavanone; III: tectochrysin, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-flavone; IV: chrysin, 5, 7-dihydroxy-flavone; V: izalpinin, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-flavonol and VI: galangin, 5, 7-dihydroxy-flavonol. CONCLUSION: Compounds I, II, III and V were found for the first time from Beijing Propolis.
A 35-year-old Asian woman was referred to the dermatology clinic with a 2-week history of enlarging, fluid-filled, pruritic lesions on the right foot. The affected area had a recent history of minor trauma for which the patient applied an over-the-counter propolis ointment. At presentation, the patient was also noted to have been using the following, as prescribed by her primary care physician: valacyclovir, ciprofloxacin, terbinafine cream, mupirocin ointment, and 2% hydrocortisone cream. No clinical improvement was observed with these agents. Examination revealed grouped erythematous papules progressing into vesicles and bulla on the lateral side of the right foot. A KOH scraping was negative. We diagnosed the patient with allergic contact dermatitis to propolis.
On the basis of gas chromatography in 16 samples of the propolis extract (EEP) a residue of chlorinated pesticides were determined. In all investigated samples a presence of the pesticides was detected. In the analysed material a lever of HCH and DDT is low. Among the propolis samples, collected from different places in Bydgoszcz and Toruń environs the differences were not found.
The chemical composition of propolis samples obtained from Behera, Egypt and Dubai, UAE, have been investigated by GC-MS and thirty four compounds have been tentatively identified. Some of these compounds have not been reported previously in Egyptian propolis from different regions. The Egyptian sample contains a high amount of aliphatic (13.7%) and aromatic (14.4%) acids. The alcohols, phenols and esters account for about 17.0% of the total content analysed. Some anthraquinone and flavone derivatives have also been detected (10%). The UAE sample is characterised by the presence of a high content of aliphatic acids (15.2%) and a low content of aromatic acids (4.3%). The aldehydes, alcohols, phenols and esters amount to about 9%. In addition to these some other compounds (high molecular weight alkanes, sugar derivatives, anthraquinone derivatives and flavone derivatives) are also present to the extent of about 33%.
A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with gradient elution was developed for the determination of the caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids in propolis concentrates. Solid-phase extraction on an RP18 column was applied for preliminary purification, and chromatographic separation was performed on 100 RP18e Lichrospher column of particle size 5 microm. The mobile phase was obtained by mixing in appropriate ratios 0.03 mM NaH2PO4, acidified with H3PO4 up to pH = 3.0, with acetonitrile to obtain a gradient in the elution process. Spectrophotometric detection was conducted at 320 nm. Under the established conditions, the method featured high sensitivity, good precision, and comparability of results, as proven by method validation and statistical analysis of the obtained results. The limits of detection were 0.315, 0.325, and 0.695 microg/mL for caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids, respectively. The corresponding recovery values were 98.14, 101.05, and 99.42% and the linearity ranges from 1.31 to 99.18 microg/mL, 1.52 to 119.16 microg/mL, and 2.42 to 184.14 microg/mL. The precision of the method was expresed by relative standard deviation values that did not exceed 3%. It was also shown that the propolis concentrates under examination had similar antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ranging from 119.8 to 124.3 microg/mL, contrary to model mixtures that showed no antibacterial activity.
This study sought to compare the antibacterial efficacy of three commonly used intracanal medicaments with propolis against Enterococcus faecalis. This study utilized 180 freshly extracted single-rooted intact human permanent teeth with a single root canal. After root canal preparations and sterilization, canals were contaminated with E. faecalis and incubated at 37 degrees C (+/- 1.0 degrees C) for seven days. The teeth were divided randomly into six groups. To determine bacterial growth on blood agar, microbiological samples were carried out with sterile paper points to evaluate results at 48 hours and at ten days. All data were analyzed statistically with t-test, Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, and one-way ANOVA tests. This study revealed that propolis had good in vitro antibacterial activity against E. faecalis in the root canals, suggesting that it could be used as an alternative intracanal medicament.
Material extracted from propolis (bee glue) by alkaline aqueous solvents or organic solvents showed weak inhibitory activity in vitro against certain species of Gram-positive bacteria. No antimicrobial activity was detected in urine from three volunteers who had taken 500 mg propolis three times a day for 3 days.
Thirty eight propolis samples were collected in several regions of SR Croatia differing in climate and vegetation. Amounts of 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone and of 5,7-dihydroxyflavonone were determined chromatographically in individual propolis samples. Concentrations of each constituent were correlated with the growth inhibitions of Bacillus subtilis (IP-5832).
Experience with the treatment of 460 patients with panaritium, abscesses, phlegmons, infectious wounds have shown that propolis is an expedient remedy (in additional to the the routine treatment). They have shown the stimulating, antiinflammatory and anti-microbial action of propolis.