Antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity of Turkish propolis on human lung cancer cell line

Hive Products: Composition, Pharmacological Properties, and Therapeutic Applications

Beekeeping provides products with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical characteristics. These products are characterized by abundance of bioactive compounds. For different reasons, honey, royal jelly, propolis, venom, and pollen are beneficial to humans and animals and could be used as therapeutics. The pharmacological action of these products is related to many of their constituents. The main bioactive components of honey include oligosaccharides, methylglyoxal, royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and phenolics compounds. Royal jelly contains jelleins, royalisin peptides, MRJPs, and derivatives of hydroxy-decenoic acid, particularly 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuromodulatory, metabolic syndrome-preventing, and anti-aging properties. Propolis has a plethora of activities that are referable to compounds such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester. Peptides found in bee venom include phospholipase A2, apamin, and melittin. In addition to being vitamin-rich, bee pollen also includes unsaturated fatty acids, sterols, and phenolics compounds that express antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the constituents of hive products are particular and different. All of these constituents have been investigated for their properties in numerous research studies. This review aims to provide a thorough screening of the bioactive chemicals found in honeybee products and their beneficial biological effects. The manuscript may provide impetus to the branch of unconventional medicine that goes by the name of apitherapy.

Chemical Composition of Volatile and Extractive Components of Canary (Tenerife) Propolis

The vegetation of the Canary Islands is characterized by a large number of endemic species confined to different altitudinal levels. It can be assumed that these circumstances determine the characteristic features of the chemical composition of local beekeeping products, including propolis. We report, for the first time, the chemical composition of propolis from Tenerife (Canary Islands). The volatile emissions of three propolis samples collected from different apiaries are represented by 162 C1-C20 compounds, of which 144 were identified using the HS-SPME/GC-MS technique. The main group of volatiles, consisting of 72 compounds, is formed by terpenoids, which account for 42-68% of the total ion current (TIC) of the chromatograms. The next most numerous groups are formed by C6-C17 alkanes and alkenes (6-32% TIC) and aliphatic C3-C11 carbonyl compounds (7-20% TIC). The volatile emissions also contain C1-C6 aliphatic acids and C2-C8 alcohols, as well as their esters. Peaks of 138 organic C3-C34 compounds were recorded in the chromatograms of the ether extracts of the studied propolis. Terpene compounds form the most numerous group, but their number and content in different samples is within very wide limits (9-63% TIC), which is probably due to the origin of the samples from apiaries located at different altitudes. A peculiarity of the chemical composition of the extractive substances is the almost complete absence of phenylcarboxylic acids and flavonoids, characteristic of Apis mellifera propolis from different regions of Eurasia and North America. Aromatic compounds of propolis from Tenerife are represented by a group of nine isomeric furofuranoid lignans, as well as alkyl- and alkenyl-substituted derivatives of salicylic acid and resorcinol.

Chemical Characterization and Biological Properties Assessment of Euphorbia resinifera and Euphorbia officinarum Moroccan Propolis

Although the plants of the genus Euphorbia are largely exploited by therapists in Morocco, the composition and antibacterial activities of propolis from these plants are still unknown. To address this gap, this study aimed to characterize the pollen type, the volatile compounds, and the phenolic and mineral profiles of three Euphorbia propolis samples collected in Morocco and evaluate their antimicrobial activities. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the propolis samples was determined by the microdilution method, and the anti-adherence activity was evaluated by the crystal violet assay. The examination of anti-quorum-sensing proprieties was performed using the biosensor Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. Pollen analysis revealed that Euphorbia resinifera pollen dominated in the P1 sample (58%), while E. officinarum pollen dominated in the P2 and P3 samples (44%). The volatile compounds were primarily composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons, constituting 35% in P1 and 31% in P2, with α-pinene being the major component in both cases, at 16% in P1 and 15% in P2. Calcium (Ca) was the predominant mineral element in both E. resinifera (P1) and E. officinarum (P2 and P3) propolis samples. Higher levels of phenols, flavonoids and dihydroflavonoids were detected in the E. officinarum P2 sample. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value ranged from 50 to 450 µL/mL against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Euphorbia propolis displayed the ability to inhibit quorum sensing in the biosensor C. violaceum CV026 and disrupted bacterial biofilm formation, including that of resistant bacterial pathogens. In summary, the current study evidences the potential use of E. officinarum propolis (P2 and P3) to combat important features of resistant pathogenic bacteria, such as quorum sensing and biofilm formation.

Antibacterial and osteoinductive properties of wollastonite scaffolds impregnated with propolis produced by additive manufacturing

Biocompatible ceramic scaffolds offer a promising approach to address the challenges in bone reconstruction. Wollastonite, well-known for its exceptional biocompatibility, has attracted significant attention in orthopedics and craniofacial fields. However, the antimicrobial properties of wollastonite have contradictory findings, necessitating further research to enhance its antibacterial characteristics. This study aimed to explore a new approach to improve in vitro biological response in terms of antimicrobial activity and cell proliferation by taking advantage of additive manufacturing for the development of scaffolds with complex geometries by 3D printing using propolis-modified wollastonite. The scaffolds were designed with a TPMS (Triply Periodic Minimal Surface) gyroid geometric shape and 3D printed prior to impregnation with propolis extract. The paste formulation was characterized by rheometric measurements, and the presence of propolis was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The scaffolds were comprehensively assessed for their mechanical strength. The biological characterization involved evaluating the antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, employing Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Zone of Inhibition (ZOI), and biofilm formation assays. Additionally, SaOs-2 cultures were used to study cell proliferation (Alamar blue assay), and potential osteogenic was tested (von Kossa, Alizarin Red, and ALP stainings) at different time points. Propolis impregnation did not compromise the mechanical properties of the scaffolds, which exhibited values comparable to human trabecular bone. Propolis incorporation conferred antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The implementation of TPMS gyroid geometry in the scaffold design demonstrated favorable cell proliferation with increased metabolic activity and osteogenic potential after 21 days of cell cultures.

Synthesis of optimized propolis solid lipid nanoparticles with desirable antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties

This study aimed to produce stable propolis nanoparticles with a size below 100 nm, suitable for various applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals, medicine, cosmetics, food, and packaging. To achieve this, propolis solid lipid nanoparticles (PSLNs) were synthesized using the hot homogenization method, and the optimized nanoparticles were analyzed using Design Expert software. The properties of the synthesized PSLN were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, PSA, TEM, and zeta potential analysis. The results indicated that PSLNs with a size range of 57 ± 15 nm remained stable in an aqueous medium at pH 7.4. HPLC analysis showed that the active ingredient of phenols and flavonoids in the extract remained stable after the formation of PSLNs. Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the extract and nanoparticles were also evaluated. The results demonstrated that the biological properties of the extract were effectively preserved in PSLNs, Additionally, the PSLN synthesized exhibited remarkable anticancer properties against the A549 cell line and with IC50 of 0.01 mg/ml after 72 h-treatment. In conclusion, the optimized PSLNs can be utilized as antioxidant and antibacterial additives and have the potential to be used as a drug or drug carrier for the treatment of lung cancer.

Novel landmarks on the journey from natural products to pharmaceutical formulations: Phytochemical, biological, toxicological and computational activities of Satureja hortensis L

This study examined the ethanolic extract of the Satureja hortensis L. plant's aerial parts to describe its phytochemical makeup, biological functions, toxicity tests, and in-silico molecular docking tests. The GC-MS analysis was used to evaluate the phytochemical composition of the tested extract, and the ABTS and hydrogen peroxide antioxidant assays were used to measure antioxidant activity. Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris were tested for antimicrobial potential. On cell lines such as HepG-2, MCF-7, A-549, and Panc-1, the in-vitro toxicity was also examined. The A-549 cell line was also used for flow cytometry analysis of apoptosis and cell cycle. Additionally, the compounds discovered by the GC-MS analysis were used in silico tests against biological targets. Eight different phytocompounds were tentatively identified as a result of the GC-MS analysis. The compounds also demonstrated significant antioxidant potential for the ABTS and H2O2 assays (IC50: 2.44 and 28.04 μg/ml, respectively). The tested extract was found to have a range of inhibition zones and to be significantly active against the tested bacterial and fungal strains. Apoptosis and cell cycle analysis for the A-549 cell line showed that the cell cycle was arrested at S-phase, and the extract was also found to be most active against this cell line with an IC50 value of 113.05 μg/ml. The docking studies have emphasized the compounds' interactions and binding scores with the EGFR-TK target as determined by the GC-MS.

Chemical Analysis and in Vitro Antiviral Effects of Northeast Türkiye Propolis Samples against HSV-1

Propolis is one of the mixtures with the widest biological activity among natural products used in complementary medicine. HSV-1 is a highly contagious and endemic virus. Available drugs are insufficient for recurrent HSV-1 infections. Therefore, new approaches to treat HSV-1 infections are still being developed. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the inhibition effect of ethanolic Anatolian propolis extracts obtained from the Eastern Black Sea Region (Pazar, Ardahan, and Uzungöl) on HSV-1. In addition to the total phenolic (TPC) and the total flavonoid content (TFC), the phenolic profiles of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-UV. The antiviral activity of the extracts were tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), and plaque reduction tests, and the results were evaluated statistically. It was determined that the total amount of phenolic substances varied between 44.12 and 166.91 mg GAE/g, and the total flavonoid content of the samples varied between 12.50 and 41.58 (mg QUE/g). It was shown that all propolis samples used in the current study were effective against HSV-1, but the higher phenolic compounds contained in the samples showed the higher activity. The results show that ethanolic propolis extracts are promising candidates for HSV-1 treatment.

Ethanol extract of propolis regulates type 2 diabetes in mice via metabolism and gut microbiota

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Propolis is a traditional natural medicine with various activities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumour, gastroenteritis treatment and prevention, anti-microbial and parasitic, as well as glucose regulation and anti-diabetes, and is expected to be an anti-diabetic candidate with few side effects, but the mechanism of action of propolis on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been fully elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of the effect of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) on the regulation of blood glucose in T2DM mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied the possible mechanism of EEP on T2DM using an animal model of T2DM induced by a combination of a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The experiment was divided into four groups, namely, the normal group (HC), model group (T2DM), EEP and metformin group (MET). Biochemical indexes and cytokines were measured, and the differences of metabolites in the serum were compared by ¹H-NMR. In addition, the diversity of intestinal flora in feces was studied by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing.

RESULTS

The results showed that following treatment with EEP and MET, the weight-loss trend of mice was alleviated, and the fasting blood glucose, insulin secretion level, insulin resistance index, C peptide level and oral glucose tolerance level decreased, whereas the insulin sensitivity index increased, thereby EEP effectively alleviated the occurrence of T2DM and insulin resistance. Compared with the T2DM group, the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) decreased significantly in EEP and MET groups, whereas the concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) increased significantly. Metabolomics results revealed that EEP and MET regulate carbohydrate metabolism and restore amino acid and lipid metabolism. Correlation analysis of intestinal flora in mouse feces showed that compared with the HC group, harmful bacteria such as Bilophila, Eubacterium_ventriosum_group, Mucispirillum and Desulfovibrio were found in the T2DM group, whereas the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus was significantly reduced. Parabacteroides, Akkermansia, Leuconostoc, and Alloprevotella were abundantly present in the EEP group; however, the MET group showed an increase in the genus Parasutterella, which could regulate energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that EEP and MET reduce fasting blood glucose in T2DM mice, followed by alleviating insulin resistance, improving the inflammatory reaction of mice, regulating the metabolism of mice, and affecting the steady state of gut microbiota. However, the overall therapeutic effect of EEP is better than that of MET.

Effects of Propolis Impregnation on Polylactic Acid (PLA) Scaffolds Loaded with Wollastonite Particles against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Their Coculture for Potential Medical Devices

Several diseases and injuries cause irreversible damage to bone tissues, which may require partial or total regeneration or replacement. Tissue engineering suggests developing substitutes that may contribute to the repair or regeneration process by using three-dimensional lattices (scaffolds) to create functional bone tissues. Herein, scaffolds comprising polylactic acid and wollastonite particles enriched with propolis extracts from the Arauca region of Colombia were developed as gyroid triply periodic minimal surfaces using fused deposition modeling. The propolis extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25175) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228), which cause osteomyelitis. The scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle, swelling, and degradation. Their mechanical properties were assessed using static and dynamic tests. Cell viability/proliferation assay was conducted using hDP-MSC cultures, while their bactericidal properties against monospecies cultures (S. aureus and S. epidermidis) and cocultures were evaluated. The wollastonite particles did not affect the physical, mechanical, or thermal properties of the scaffolds. The contact angle results showed that there were no substantial differences in the hydrophobicity between scaffolds with and without particles. Scaffolds containing wollastonite particles suffered less degradation than those produced using PLA alone. A representative result of the cyclic tests at F_max = 450 N showed that the maximum strain reached after 8000 cycles is well below the yield strain (i.e., <7.5%), thereby indicating that even under these stringent conditions, these scaffolds will be able to work properly. The scaffolds impregnated with propolis showed a lower % of cell viability using hDP-MSCs on the 3rd day, but these values increased on the 7th day. These scaffolds exhibited antibacterial activity against the monospecies cultures of S. aureus and S. epidermidis and their cocultures. The samples without propolis loads did not show inhibition halos, whereas those loaded with EEP exhibited halos of 17.42 ± 0.2 mm against S. aureus and 12.9 ± 0.5 mm against S. epidermidis. These results made the scaffolds possible bone substitutes that exert control over species with a proliferative capacity for the biofilm-formation processes required for typical severe infectious processes.

Antitumor Effects of Poplar Propolis on DLBCL SU-DHL-2 Cells

Propolis is resinous natural product produced by Western honeybees using beeswax and plant and bud exudates, which has a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidation, antibacterial, anti-inflammation, immune regulation, antitumor, and so on. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive cancer, and accounts for about 30% of all lymphomas. The effect of poplar propolis on DLBCL has not been reported. The IC₅₀ of propolis on the proliferation of DLBCL SU-DHL-2 cell line and its proteins and gene expressions were detected by CCK-8 kit, label-free proteomic, and RT-PCR. The results showed that the IC₅₀ of propolis at the 5 × l05/mL cell for 24 h was 5.729 μg/mL. Label-free-based proteomics analysis showed that there were 115 differentially expressed proteins (61 up-regulated and 54 down-regulated proteins) between IC₅₀ dose-treated and solvent control groups. There were 32.47% differential proteins located in the nucleus, 20.78% in the cytoplasm, and 14.29% in mitochondria. The most significant different pathway (p = 0.0016) of protein enrichment was ferroptosis (including glutamate-cysteine ligase regulatory subunit, ferritin, and heme oxygenase). The relative expression trend of 17 of the total 22 genes selected according to proteomics results was in line with their encoded protein. The highest protein-protein interaction was serine/threonine-protein kinase PLK, which interacted with 16 differential proteins. In conclusion, poplar propolis inhibited SU-DHL-2 cells via ferroptosis pathway, accelerating cell death and down-regulated serine/threonine-protein kinase PLK1, affecting apoptosis of cell. This result provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of DLBCL using propolis.

Cytotoxicity of Propolis Extracts obtained using Dichloromethane and Hexane Solvent on Human Salivary Gland Tumor Cell Line

AIM

This in vitro study aimed to investigate the effect of propolis extracts from two different solvents on human submandibular salivary gland (HSG) tumor cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Propolis was extracted by dichloromethane (DCM) and hexane (HEX). Crude extracts were prepared from 6.25 to 200 µg/mL in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium without serum. Flavonoid and total phenolic contents of crude extracts were measured using a modified colorimetric method. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The statistics were analyzed by independent sample t-test.

RESULTS

Propolis extracts obtained using DCM and HEX exhibited comparable % yield (38.58 and 38.25) and physical characteristics and different amounts of flavonoid (0.439 ± 0.02 and 0.250 ± 0.01 mg catechin/g sample) and total phenolic compounds (3.759 ± 0.03 and 1.618 ± 0.03 mg gallic acid equivalents/g sample). The DCM group at 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL as well as the HEX group at 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL significantly displayed a decrease in % cell viability and an increase in % cytotoxicity, compared with the untreated control group (P < 0.05). The DCM group showed the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of MTT (42.93 ± 2.70) and LDH (34.94 ± 0.22). The HEX group showed the IC50 of MTT (61.30 ± 5.39) and LDH (42.32 ± 1.00). Propolis extracts obtained using both DCM and HEX are effective to inhibit HSG viability.

CONCLUSION

Regarding to the cell morphological observation, MTT and LDH assays, propolis extracts obtained using DCM and HEX exhibited the cytotoxic effect on HSG tumor cell line. Based on our knowledge, this research demonstrates the first preliminary result suggesting propolis as a natural product of choice for salivary gland cancer prevention and therapy.

Elevated Bax/Bcl-2 Ratio: A Cytotoxic Mode of Action of Kermanian Propolis Against an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cell Line, NALM-6

Currently, alternative cancer remedies, especially herbal-derived medicines, have attracted great interest. Propolis, a honeybee-produced naturopathic formulation, is an available, affordable, and safe example of such remedies with different content according to its geographic location. Findings regarding the protective properties of this resinous substance across numerous pathological conditions are promising. Although the anti-tumor effects of propolis from different origins have been explored to some degree, yet there is no study on the effects of Kermanian propolis in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Accordingly, the objective of the present experiment was to divulge the anti-tumor potential of this bioactive substance both as monotherapy and in combination with doxorubicin against an acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (NALM-6).The viability of cells treated with Kermanian propolis (5-500 μg/mL) and doxorubicin (5-100 μg/mL) was analyzed during 72 h. Based on the MTT results, the best incubation time, IC50 concentrations, and finally the cytotoxicity of the combination therapy were ascertained. Next, the apoptotic rate and expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2 and Bax) were assessed in mono and combination therapies using flow cytometry and real-time PCR assays, respectively. Kermanian propolis and doxorubicin have impressive tumor-suppressing activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 concentrations: 100 and 40 μg/mL respectively). The best incubation time was considered 48 h. For the combination approach, 50 and 10 μg/mL were determined as optimum concentrations of the compounds. The selected concentrations induced notable apoptosis in the studied cells through significant (P < 0.01) upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 level. The present study clearly suggests that Kermanian propolis, as an adjunct treatment option, has a promising apoptosis-induced cell death potential in the NALM-6 cell line.

Propolis: Its Role and Efficacy in Human Health and Diseases

With technological advancements in the medicinal and pharmaceutical industries, numerous research studies have focused on the propolis produced by stingless bees (Meliponini tribe) and Apis mellifera honeybees as alternative complementary medicines for the potential treatment of various acute and chronic diseases. Propolis can be found in tropical and subtropical forests throughout the world. The composition of phytochemical constituents in propolis varies depending on the bee species, geographical location, botanical source, and environmental conditions. Typically, propolis contains lipid, beeswax, essential oils, pollen, and organic components. The latter include flavonoids, phenolic compounds, polyphenols, terpenes, terpenoids, coumarins, steroids, amino acids, and aromatic acids. The biologically active constituents of propolis, which include countless organic compounds such as artepillin C, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, apigenin, chrysin, galangin, kaempferol, luteolin, genistein, naringin, pinocembrin, coumaric acid, and quercetin, have a broad spectrum of biological and therapeutic properties such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstruct pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract-related diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, and immuno-inflammatory agents. Therefore, this review aims to provide a summary of recent studies on the role of propolis, its constituents, its biologically active compounds, and their efficacy in the medicinal and pharmaceutical treatment of chronic diseases.

Propolis: An update on its chemistry and pharmacological applications

Propolis, a resinous substance produced by honeybees from various plant sources, has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine for several purposes all over the world. The precise composition of propolis varies according to plant source, seasons harvesting, geography, type of bee flora, climate changes, and honeybee species at the site of collection. This apiary product has broad clinical applications such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, analgesic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic as well asimmunomodulatory effects. It is also well known from traditional uses in treating purulent disorders, improving the wound healing, and alleviating many of the related discomforts. Even if its use was already widespread since ancient times, after the First and Second World War, it has grown even more as well as the studies to identify its chemical and pharmacological features, allowing to discriminate the qualities of propolis in terms of the chemical profile and relative biological activity based on the geographic place of origin. Recently, several in vitro and in vivo studies have been carried out and new insights into the pharmaceutical prospects of this bee product in the management of different disorders, have been highlighted. Specifically, the available literature confirms the efficacy of propolis and its bioactive compounds in the reduction of cancer progression, inhibition of bacterial and viral infections as well as mitigation of parasitic-related symptoms, paving the way to the use of propolis as an alternative approach to improve the human health. However, a more conscious use of propolis in terms of standardized extracts as well as new clinical studies are needed to substantiate these health claims.

Polish and New Zealand Propolis as Sources of Antioxidant Compounds Inhibit Glioblastoma (T98G, LN-18) Cell Lines and Astrocytoma Cells Derived from Patient

Gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme and astrocytoma, are common brain cancers in adults. Propolis is a natural product containing many active ingredients. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition, total phenolic content and concentration of toxic elements as well as the anticancer potential of Polish (PPE) and New Zealand (Manuka—MPE) propolis extracts on diffuse astrocytoma derived from patient (DASC) and glioblastoma (T98G, LN-18) cell lines. The antioxidants such as flavonoids and chalcones (pinocembrin, pinobanksin, pinobanksin 3-acetate and chrysin) were the main components in both types of propolis. The content of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in MPE was higher than PPE. The anti-proliferative study showed strong activity of PPE and MPE propolis on DASC, T98G, and LN-18 cells by apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest and attenuated migration. These findings suggest that despite their different geographic origins, Polish and New Zealand propolis are sources of antioxidant compounds and show similar activity and a promising anti-glioma potential in in vitro study. However, further in vivo studies are required in order to assess therapeutic potential of propolis.

Induction of apoptosis by Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) Urb. bulb extracted under optimised extraction condition on human retinoblastoma cancer cells (WERI-Rb-1)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The bulb of Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) Urb. is an indigenous medicinal plant traditionally used among Dayak people for the management of diabetes, breast cancer, hypertension, stroke, and fertility problems in women. The bulb has been reported with a potent cytotoxic potential but with limited underlying mechanisms.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic properties of E. bulbosa ethanolic bulb extracted under optimised extraction condition on retinoblastoma cancer cells (WERI-Rb-1) through in vitro cell culture bioassays. The optimised extraction condition has been determined in the previous reports.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cytotoxic assay was analysed through MTT assay. Comparison between non-optimised and optimised extraction condition from E. bulbosa ethanolic bulb extract was evaluated. Morphological assessment of apoptotic cells was conducted through acridine orange propidium iodide (AOPI) staining using fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis assay was carried out through Annexin V-FITC and cell cycle analysis through PI staining. The effect of varying concentrations (IC₂₅, IC₅₀, IC₇₅) of the optimised E. bulbosa ethanolic bulb extract was observed. The mRNA expression was also conducted to confirm the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

The optimised E. bulbosa ethanolic bulb extract markedly suppressed the proliferation of retinoblastoma cancer cells significantly with an IC₅₀ value of 15.7 μg/mL as compared to non-optimised extract (p < 0.01). Fluorescence microscopy revealed that retinoblastoma cancer cells manifested early features of apoptosis-like membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies in a dose-dependent manner. The number of apoptotic cells were greatly observed in early and late apoptosis through Annexin V-FITC and the extract also induced cell arrestment as compared to the untreated group. The apoptosis was confirmed with the upregulation of Bax, Bad, p53, Caspase 3, Caspase 8, and Caspase 9 genes meanwhile, Bcl-2, BcL-xL, Nrf-2, and HO-1 genes were downregulated.

CONCLUSION

The optimised E. bulbosa ethanolic bulb extract induced a significant cell death and cell cycle arrestment on retinoblastoma cancer cells. It could be suggested that the induction of apoptosis in retinoblastoma cancer cells may be due to the synergistic effect of the bioactive compounds extracted under optimised extraction condition. Our findings indicated that E. bulbosa bulb could be promising chemotherapeutic potential to treat retinoblastoma cancer cells.

The Potential Use of Propolis as a Primary or an Adjunctive Therapy in Respiratory Tract-Related Diseases and Disorders: A Systematic Scoping Review

Propolis is a resinous beehive product that is collected by the bees from plant resin and exudates, to protect and maintain hive homeostasis. Propolis has been used by humans therapeutically to treat many ailments including respiratory tract-related diseases and disorders. The aim of the present systematic scoping review is to evaluate the experimental evidence to support the use of propolis as a primary or an adjunctive therapy in respiratory tract-related diseases and disorders. After applying the exclusion criteria, 158 research publications were retrieved and identified from Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Google Scholar. The key themes of the included studies were pathogenic infection-related diseases and disorders, inflammation-related disorders, lung cancers, and adverse effects. Furthermore, the potential molecular and biochemical mechanisms of action of propolis in alleviating respiratory tract-related diseases and disorders are discussed. In conclusion, the therapeutic benefits of propolis have been demonstrated by various in vitro studies, in silico studies, animal models, and human clinical trials. Based on the weight and robustness of the available experimental and clinical evidence, propolis is effective, either as a primary or an adjunctive therapy, in treating respiratory tract-related diseases.

Tetra-substituted phthalocyanines bearing thiazolidine derivatives: synthesis, anticancer activity on different cancer cell lines, and molecular docking studies

In the first step, (4R)-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (c) and 2-(2-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (1) were prepared. Then, the peripherally tetra-substituted metallophthalocyanines [ZnPc (2), CuPc (3), and CoPc (4)] were synthesized by using 1. The structures of the obtained compounds were characterized by common spectroscopic methods. Aggregation behaviors of the tetra-substituted metallophthalocyanines (2-4) were investigated by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy in the presence/absence of soft metal ions. The electronic spectra of the newly synthesized metallophthalocyanines [ZnPc (2), CuPc (3), and CoPc (4)] were analyzed by the Bayliss method. The fluorescence quantum yield of diamagnetic ZnPc (2) was obtained in DMSO at room temperature. Also, the anticancer activity of the newly synthesized metallophthalocyanine derivatives was studied on C6, DU-145, and WI-38 cell lines and investigated using six concentrations (3.125; 6.25; 12.5; 50; 75; 100 μg L-1). The cell cycle and apoptosis analyses of CuPc (3) were performed. In addition, the chemical and biological activities of 2-(2-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (1) and its novel type metallophthalocyanines [ZnPc (2), CuPc (3), and CoPc (4)] were compared with many parameters obtained from the Gaussian software and molecular docking methods.

Bee Products: A Representation of Biodiversity, Sustainability, and Health

Biodiversity strengthens the productivity of any ecosystem (agricultural land, forest, lake, etc.). The loss of biodiversity contributes to food and energy insecurity; increases vulnerability to natural disasters, such as floods or tropical storms; and decreases the quality of both life and health. Wild and managed bees play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity and in the recovery and restoration of degraded habitats. The novelty character of this perspective is to give an updated representation of bee products’ biodiversity, sustainability, and health relationship. The role of bees as bioindicators, their importance in the conservation of biodiversity, their ecosystem services, and the variety of the bee products are described herein. An overview of the main components of bee products, their biological potentials, and health is highlighted and detailed as follows: (i) nutritional value of bee products, (ii) bioactive profile of bee products and the related beneficial properties; (iii) focus on honey and health through a literature quantitative analysis, and (iv) bee products explored through databases. Moreover, as an example of the interconnection between health, biodiversity, and sustainability, a case study, namely the “Cellulose Park”, realized in Rome (Italy), is presented here. This case study highlights how bee activities can be used to assess and track changes in the quality of agricultural ecosystems—hive products could be valid indicators of the quality and health of the surrounding environment, as well as the changes induced by the biotic and abiotic factors that impact the sustainability of agricultural production and biodiversity conservation in peri-urban areas.

Effects of Bee Propolis on FBG, HbA1c, and Insulin Resistance in Healthy Volunteers

Objectives

Bee propolis is a natural substance that is used in traditional medicine due to its versatile pharmacological actions. This study evaluates whether short term use of bee propolis supplementation could have an impact on glycemic control in healthy individuals.

Materials and Methods

A single daily dose of 1000 mg of bee propolis was administered orally to a total of 34 healthy individuals for 60 days. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and insulin resistance were measured in all participants before and after the use of bee propolis.

Results

The results of this study showed that bee propolis was associated with a significant increase in body weight and BMI of healthy volunteers. Bee propolis supplementation decreased FBG and HbA1c, but did not affect insulin resistance.

Conclusion

Based on these results, bee propolis supplementation has a potential effect on glycemic control in healthy individuals and this should be considered when using this supplement in medical conditions.

An Investigation of the Antiproliferative Effect of Rhododendron luteum Extract on Cervical Cancer (HeLa) Cells via Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of Rhododendron luteum extract (RLE) in the induction of Nrf2‑related oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The antiproliferative effect of RLE on HeLa and fibroblast cells was determined using the MTT assay. The effects of RLE on the cell cycle, apoptosis, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HeLa cells were evaluated using fluorescent probes. The mRNA expression levels of Nrf2 [and its targets glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)], and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP, an ER stress marker were determined using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results demonstrated that RLE exhibited a selective cytotoxic effect (2.9-fold) on HeLa cells compared to fibroblast cells. RLE arrested the cell cycle at the S phase, and induced apoptosis, ER stress, and ROS formation. In addition, RLE significantly suppressed the expression levels of Nrf2, GCLC and G6PD (0.65, 0.69, and 0.54-fold, respectively) and increased the expression of CHOP (4.48-fold) in HeLa cells at 72 h of treatment (p < 0.05). These results show that the antiproliferative effect of RLE occurs through the Nrf2 and ER stress pathways, and the results should now be supported by further in vivo studies.

Pharmaceutical Prospects of Bee Products: Special Focus on Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antiparasitic Properties

Bee products have long been used in traditional healing practices to treat many types of disorders, including cancer and microbial-related diseases. Indeed, several chemical compounds found in bee products have been demonstrated to display anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties. With the improvement of research tools and in view of recent advances related to bee products, this review aims to provide broad yet detailed insight into the pharmaceutical prospects of bee products such as honey, propolis, bee pollen, royal jelly, bee bread, beeswax, and bee venom, in the domain of cancer and infectious disease management. Available literature confirms the efficacy of these bee products in the alleviation of cancer progression, inhibition of bacterial and viral proliferation, and mitigation of parasitic-related symptoms. With such potentials, bioactive components isolated from the bee products can be used as an alternative approach in the long-run effort to improve humans’ health at a personal and community level.

Effects of propolis and its bioactive components on breast cancer cell pathways and the molecular mechanisms involved

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is a female malignancy that is a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Currently, investigations on natural ingredients as new candidates for chemopreventive agents and breast cancer chemotherapies are increasing. Propolis is a natural resinous material produced by honeybees that exhibit anticancer potential. Several studies have mentioned the major bioactive compounds of propolis, but their mechanism of action is not clearly understood.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this review is to collect and summarize the evidence related to the effectiveness of propolis and its bioactive contents as candidates for breast cancer therapy and analyze the molecular mechanisms involved in their therapeutic pathways.

METHODS

We reviewed 94 articles from journals and databases, extracted the results, and produced summaries and conclusions.

RESULTS

Propolis and its bioactive ingredients show cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, pro-autophagic, anti-metastatic, and antioxidant activities, as well as synergistic effects with chemotherapy or radiotherapy in breast cancer. Its therapeutic activity involves various target molecules, including NF-κβ, Fas receptors, p53, TLR4, ANXA7, and voltage-gated Na+ channel (VGSC).

CONCLUSION

The bioactive components of propolis and the target molecules involved need to be explored further to develop new breast cancer therapies and overcome the problem of chemoradiation resistance.

Co-administration of Aluminum Sulfate and Propolis Regulates Matrix Metalloproteinases-2/9 Expression and Improves the Uterine Leiomyoma in Adult Rat Model

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aluminum sulfate (alum) with propolis (PR) on uterine leiomyoma (UL) in rat model. One hundred and four female Wistar rats (180-200 g) were allocated into two main groups of control (Co, n = 8) and experiment (UL model [estradiol benzoate 200 μg/kg/IM twice/week/8 weeks] with/without treatment) defined in 13 subgroups with/without treatment with coil oil (UL + COi), PR (100 or 200 mg/kg) as UL + PR100 or 200, alum (35, 75 or 150 mg/Kg) as UL + AL 35, 75, or 150, and PR (100 mg/kg or 200) with alum (35, 75, or 150 mg/Kg) as UL + PR100 or 200 + AL35, 75, or 150. Subgroups received doses of therapeutics for 14 days (IP). In the end, rats were sacrificed, and the uteri were isolated for molecular and histopathological investigations. The myometrium thickness, collagen contents, and gene expression of MMP-2 and 9 increased significantly in experimental groups with/without treatment (P ˂ 0.05). PR administration (100 and 200 mg/kg) alone or with alum (35 and 75 mg/kg) significantly decreased myometrium collagen contents and the gene expression and protein concentration of MMP-2 and 9 compared with UL and UL + Coi subgroups (P ˂ 0.05). Alum (75 mg/kg) with PR (200 mg/kg) could improve UL features and reduce MMP-2 and 9 gene expression.

Systems pharmacology dissection of Epimedium targeting tumor microenvironment to enhance cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in lung cancer

The clinical notably success of immunotherapy fosters an enthusiasm in developing drugs by enhancing antitumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Epimedium, is a promising herbal medicine for tumor immunotherapy due to the pharmacological actions in immunological function modulation and antitumor. Here, we developed a novel systems pharmacology strategy to explore the polypharmacology mechanism of Epimedium involving in targeting TME of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This strategy integrates the active compounds screening, target predicting, network pharmacology analysis and onco-immune interacting to predict the potential active compounds that trigger the antitumor immunity. Icaritin (ICT), a major active ingredient of Epimedium, was predicted to have good drug-like properties and target immune microenvironment in NSCLC via regulating multiple targets and pathways. Then, we evidenced that the ICT effectively inhibited tumor growth in LLC tumor-bearing mice and increases the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in TME. In addition, we demonstrated that ICT promotes infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells in TME by downregulating the immunosuppressive cytokine (TNF-α, IL10, IL6) and upregulating chemotaxis (CXCL9 and CXCL10). Overall, the systems pharmacology strategy offers an important paradigm to understand the mechanism of polypharmacology of natural products targeting TME.

Chemical composition of Polish propolis and its antiproliferative effect in combination with Bacopa monnieri on glioblastoma cell lines

Propolis and Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (Brahmi) are natural products that contain many active substances and possess anticancer properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of Polish propolis extract (PPE) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), B. monnieri extracts (BcH, BcS) by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and mass spectrometry coupled with electrospray ionization (LC-ESI-MS) and finally determine its anti-proliferative potential combined with BcH and BcS in glioblastoma cell lines (T98G, LN-18, U87MG). The antiproliferative activity of PPE, BcH, BcS and their combination (PPE + BcH) was determined by a cytotoxicity test, and DNA binding was determined by [³H]-thymidine incorporation. Flavonoids and phenylpropenoids were the main components of PPE. BcH and BcS samples were also successfully analyzed. Their main constituents were saponins such as bacoside A3, bacopaside II, X and bacopasaponin C and its isomer. The inhibitory effects on the viability and proliferation of the tested glioma cells observed after incubation with the combination of PPE and BcH were significantly stronger than the effects of these two extracts separately. These findings suggest that propolis in combination with B. monnieri shows promising anticancer activity for the treatment of glioblastoma. However, further studies are still required.

Propolis as a novel antibacterial agent

Propolis (bee glue) is a bee glue, sticky resinous material released from various plant sources such as bud exudates, flowers, and leaves modified by bee secretions and wax propolis is composed of resins, waxes, polyphenols, polysaccharides, volatile materials, and secondary metabolites that are responsible for various bioactivity such as antibacterial, anti-angiogenic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-viral activities. The physico-chemical characteristics and the natural properties of various kinds of propolis have been studied for the past decade. Novel active anti-microbial compounds have been identified in propolis. Those compounds positively modulated the antimicrobial resistance of multidrug resistant bacteria. Published research has indicated that propolis and its derivatives has many natural antimicrobial compounds with a broad spectrum against different types of bacteria and that it enhanced the efficacy of conventional antibiotics. Besides, the combination of propolis with other compounds such as honey has been studied whereby, such combinations have a synergistic effect against bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The activity of propolis is very much dependent on seasonal and regional factors, and Middle Eastern propolis have shown best antibacterial efficacy. Propolis and its main flavonoids ingredients should not be overlooked and should be evaluated in clinical trials to better elucidate their potential application in various fields of medicine. Clinical antibacterial potential and its use in new drugs of biotechnological products should be conducted. This review aims at highlighting some of the recent scientific findings associated with the antibacterial properties of propolis and its components.

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the effects of Propolis in inflammation, oxidative stress and glycemic control in chronic diseases

Propolis is a sticky, resinous material gather from plants and is blended with wax and other constituents. It is reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and blood glucose-lowering properties. This review aims to summarise evidences for the cellular and molecular mechanism of Propolis in inflammation, oxidative stress, and glycemic control. Propolis stimulate the production and secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines and to inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines and due to its various antioxidant and poly-phenolic compounds may has a role in control and treating some of the chronic diseases. Most studies have shown that Propolis may affect metabolic factors including plasma insulin levels, and it has proposed that it could be used in the prevention and treatment of T2D Mellitus. In general, to demonstrate the definite effects of Propolis on chronic diseases, more studies are required using larger sample sizes and various doses of Propolis, using better characterized and standardized agents.

Chinese Propolis Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Gastric Cancer Cells by Inducing Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest

Special Chinese propolis sourced from the Changbai Mountains (CBMP) in Northeast China is rich in specific flavonoids and phenolic acids and its bioactivity has not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative effect of CBMP on cancer cells and its molecular mechanisms. Different cancer cell lines were treated with the ethanol extracts of CBMP for 24 hours before the cell viability and mechanism measurements. The results showed CBMP had weak activities against human pancreatic cancer cell PANC1, human lung cancer cell A549, human colon cancer cell HCT116, human liver cancer cell HepG2, human bladder cancer cell T24, and human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231, but it significantly inhibited the growth of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, caused cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in S phase, with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The results indicate that Chinese propolis sourced from the Changbai Mountains selectively inhibits the proliferation of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells by inducing both death receptor-induced apoptosis and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in S phase. These activities and mechanisms help understand the anticancer action of propolis and its active compounds.

Grouping, Spectrum-Effect Relationship and Antioxidant Compounds of Chinese Propolis from Different Regions Using Multivariate Analyses and Off-Line Anti-DPPH Assay

49 samples of propolis from different regions in China were collected and analyzed for their chemical compositions, contents of total flavonoids (TFC), total phenolic acid (TPC) and antioxidant activity. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis identified 15 common components, including key marker compounds pinocembrin, 3-O-acetylpinobanksin, galangin, chrysin, benzyl p-coumarate, pinobanksin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE). Cluster analysis (CA) and correlation coefficients (CC) analysis showed that these propolis could be divided into three distinct groups. Principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA) revealed that the contents of isoferulic acid, caffeic acid, CAPE, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid, chrysin and apigenin are closely related to the antioxidant properties of propolis. In addition, eight peak areas decreased after reacting with 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, indicating that these compounds have antioxidant activity. The results indicate that the grouping and spectrum–effect relationship of Chinese propolis are related to their chemical compositions, and several compounds may serve as a better marker for the antioxidant activity of Chinese propolis than TFC and TPC. The findings may help to develop better methods to evaluate the quality of propolis from different geographic origins.

Propolis extract has bioactivity on the wall and cell membrane of Candida albicans

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The use of natural products such as propolis extract (PE) is a promising alternative when topically administered to replace conventional antifungals, mostly due to its therapeutic applications, ease of access and low toxicity. However, despite being the subject of several mycology studies, they focus primarily on exploiting their antimicrobial activity, lacking information on the mechanisms of action of PE on Candida spp., characterizing its antifungal potential.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the bioactivity of PE on the cellular structure of Candida albicans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of seven C. albicans clinical isolates plus a reference strain of C. albicans ATCC 90028 were used in this study. The PE was characterized and its effect on C. albicans was determined by susceptibility and growth kinetics assays; interference on C. albicans germination and filamentation; evaluation of the integrity of the C. albicans cell wall and membrane, as well as its mutagenic potential.

RESULTS

The PE presented strong inhibitory activity, which showed its greatest antifungal activity at 12 h with dose and time dependent fungistatic characteristics, effectively inhibiting and interfering on C. albicans filamentation. In addition, PE caused membrane and cell wall damage with intracellular content extravasation. Moreover, PE was not mutagenic.

CONCLUSIONS

The bioactivity of PE is mainly related to the loss of integrity membrane as well as the integrity of the cell wall and consequent increase in permeability, without mutagenic effects.

Nano-vesicular formulation of propolis and cytotoxic effects in a 3D spheroid model of lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Propolis exhibits therapeutic properties due to the presence of phenolic acids, esters, and flavonoids. The scope of this study was to develop a nano-vesicular formulation and establish a three-dimensional (3D) spheroid model in which lung cancer is recapitulated.

RESULTS

Niosome vesicles doped with galangin-rich propolis extract were synthesized by the ether injection method using a cholesterol : surfactant mass ratio of 1 : 3 at 40 °C for 1 h. Formulated niosomes were administered to 3D lung cancer spheroid model and the cytotoxicity was compared with that of a two-dimensional (2D) setting. The galangin content was determined as 86 μg mg^-1 propolis extract by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The particle size of loaded niosome was 151 ± 2.84 nm with a polydispersity index (PDI) of about 0.232, and an encapsulation efficiency of 70% was achieved.

CONCLUSION

The decrease in cell viability and the scattering in the 3D spheroids of A549 lung cancer cells treated with propolis-loaded niosomes were notable, indicating a profound cytotoxic effect and suggesting that they can be utilized as an effective nano-vesicle. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Proton NMR and HR-LC/MS based phytochemical analysis of methanolic fraction of Alectra parasitica A. Rich. rhizomes

INTRODUCTION

Alectra parasitica (Scrophulariaceae/Orobanchaceae) is a rarely occurring parasitic plant grows on roots of Vitex negundo L. (Verbenaceae). As per Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, it can be used in treatment of various diseases. So far, this plant has not been explored phyto-chemically in detail. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is mostly occurring type of lung cancer, which so far can be treated by chemotherapy approach including cisplatin.

AIM

Present research work was aimed towards preparation of methanolic fraction of A. parasitica rhizomes; its phytochemical analysis by 1H-NMR and HR-LC/MS; evaluation of its anti-cancer property against NSCLC-A549 cell line.

METHODS

For preparation of methanolic fraction (MF), A. parasitica rhizome powder was defatted; extracted with combination of water and alcohol (1:1); added with lead acetate and then sulphuric acid; fractionation of ethyl acetate fraction with methanol. After phytochemical analysis of MF by preliminary chemical testing, TLC, 1H-NMR and HR-LC/MS techniques, MF was screened for its anti - cancer property against NSCLC-A549 cell line by MTT assay.

RESULTS

Detail phytochemical analysis reflected successful preparation of tannin-less MF of A. parasitica rhizomes. Different types of analytical techniques first time proved the proved the presence of various types of phytochemicals in this plant. On MTT assay, it was found that MF has anti-cancer property against NSCLC-A549 cell line with IC50 value, 306.51 μg/ml.

CONCLUSION

MF contains different phytochemicals like iridoids, flavonoids, steroid glycosides and also strigalactones; which cumulatively exert anti-cancer effect on A549. Appearance of all these compounds is significant in chemotaxonomic surveillance of this rare plant and specially, strigalactones can be proved important in establishing their parasitism with host plant.

Effect of ethyl pyruvate on oxidative state and endoplasmic reticulum stress in a rat model of testicular torsion

We investigated the effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress due to experimental testicular ischemia-reperfusion (I-R). Eighteen rats were divided into a control group, a torsion-detorsion (T-D) group and an EP group. For pretreatment of the EP group, 50 mg/kg EP was given intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30 min before detorsion. Tissue 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Tissue total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status were determined using colorimetric methods. Histology of the tissues was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. In the T-D group, tissue 4-HNE, GRP78, TOS and oxidative stress index levels were significantly higher than for the control group. The increases were reduced significantly by EP pretreatment. Our findings suggest that EP can inhibit I-R induced testicular injury by suppressing oxidative and ER stress. EP may be a useful adjunctive treatment for surgical repair in humans.

Benzoquinones from Cyperus spp. trigger IRE1α-independent and PERK-dependent ER stress in human stomach cancer cells and are novel proteasome inhibitors

BACKGROUND

The roots and tubers of several species of the Cyperus genus are used in several parts of the world as foodstuffs and beverages. The genus is rich in several classes of quinones, however their biological properties have not been studied before.

PURPOSE

We evaluated the anticancer effect of several benzoquinones isolated from the genus and described their mechanism of action towards cancer cells.

METHODS

The most potent molecules were selected according to their effect upon cell viability. The mechanism of cell death was studied by using pharmacological inhibitors of caspases, caspase-3/4/9 activity assays, annexin-V/7-AAD by flow cytometry and intracellular reactive oxygen species and calcium levels through fluorescence spectroscopy. Elucidation of the involvement of distinct branches of the ER stress pathway was pursued by RT-PCR and WB for mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively, as well as pharmacological inhibitors. Proteasome inhibitory activity was assessed by using purified 20S catalytic subunit with the fluorogenic substrate Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-AMC.

RESULTS

Cytotoxicity studies against cancer cell lines showed that the human gastric cancer cell line AGS was the most susceptible, the most potent molecule, hydroxycyperaquinone, exhibiting an IC₅₀ close to 1 µM. Morphological and biochemical traits suggested that a process of regulated cell death was taking place, which was shown to be intrinsic pathway-independent. Results indicated that benzoquinones exert their toxicity by triggering ER stress, as shown by increased expression of CHOP (mRNA and protein levels), intracellular reactive oxygen species, changes in calcium dynamics and caspase-4 activation. Proteasome inhibition by these molecules is described for the first time.

CONCLUSION

Hydroxycyperaquinone is a novel sub-micromolar inhibitor of the 20S catalytic core of the 26S proteasome, causing cell death via IRE1α-independent/PERK-dependent pathways in stomach cancer cells. Its presence in products consumed orally may be of relevance for gastric tumors.

Thermal cycling as a novel thermal therapy to synergistically enhance the anticancer effect of propolis on PANC‑1 cells

Hyperthermia (HT) has shown potential in cancer therapy. In particular, it appears to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. However, a major concern associated with HT is that the thermal dosage applied to the tumor cells may also harm the normal tissue cells. Besides, the drugs used in HT are conventional chemotherapy drugs, which may cause serious side effects. The present study demonstrated a novel methodology in HT therapy called thermal cycle (TC)‑HT. With this strategy, a therapeutic window with a maximum synergistic effect was created by combining TC‑HT with natural compounds, with minimal unwanted cell damage. The natural compound propolis was selected, and the synergistic anticancer effect of TC‑HT and propolis was investigated in pancreatic cancer cells. The present results demonstrated for the first time that TC‑HT could enhance the anticancer effect of propolis on PANC‑1 cancer cells through the mitochondria‑dependent apoptosis pathway and cell cycle arrest. Combined treatment greatly suppressed mitochondrial membrane potential, which is an important indicator of damaged and dysfunctional mitochondria. Furthermore, the cell cycle‑regulating protein cell division cycle protein 2 was downregulated upon combined treatment, which prevented cellular progression into mitosis. The present study offers the first report, to the best of our knowledge, on the combination of TC‑HT with a natural compound for pancreatic cancer treatment. It is anticipated that this methodology may be a starting point for more sophisticated cancer treatments and may thereby improve the quality of life of many patients with cancer.

Dorycnium pentaphyllum Extract Has Antiproliferative Effect on Human Cervix and Colon Cancer Cells

Although several studies have investigated the cytotoxic effects of different Fabaceae species, limited researches have been conducted on the cytotoxic effect of Dorycnium pentaphyllum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic characterization and the cytotoxic effect of D. pentaphyllum on human cervix (HeLa) and colon (WiDr) cancer cells and the possible mechanisms involved. Total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic characterization of the extract were investigated using the Folin-Cioceltau method and RP-HPLC, respectively. The cytotoxic effect of the extract was evaluated using the MTT assay. The mechanism involved in the extract's cytotoxic effect was then evaluated in terms of apoptosis and the cell cycle using flow cytometry, while mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was investigated using the fluorometric method. The TPC value of the extract was 141.2 ± 0.8 mg gallic acid equivalent per g sample, and quercetin was detected as major phenolics. D. pentaphyllum extract exhibited a selective cytotoxic effect on HeLa and WiDr cells compared to normal fibroblast and colon cells, respectively. The extract induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase and apoptosis via reduced MMP in these cells. Further studies may be useful in developing a natural product based new generation pharmacological agent.