Planta Med 2014; 80 - P1L86
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394743

Characterization of antitumor and antiangiogenic properties of Pereiro propolis

RS Carvalho 1, 2, V Miranda-Gonçalves 1, 2, AM Ferreira 3, SM Cardoso 4, AJFN Sobral 5, CA Aguiar 6, F Baltazar 1, 2
  • 1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
  • 2ICVS/3B's – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
  • 3Chemistry Centre Vila Real (CQVR), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
  • 4CERNAS, School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045 – 601 Coimbra, Portugal
  • 5Chemistry Department, University of Coimbra, 3004 – 535 Coimbra, Portugal
  • 6CITAB, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Biology Department, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Propolis is a natural complex resinous mixture produced by honeybees and used in hives' construction, repair and defense. Humans have used propolis since almost immemorial times, and propolis containing products are marketed worldwide, in various forms for ingestion or topical use. As studies with Portuguese propolis are scarce [1 – 3], we aimed to characterize the chemical composition and biological activities, namely antitumor and antiangiogenic, of a sample collected in Pereiro (Guarda district). The chemical profile of the ethanol extract of Pereiro propolis (P10.EE) was obtained by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn analysis, confirming a profile of poplar type. Main flavonoids identified include pinocembrin, chrysin, pinobanksin and the phenolic acids detected were caffeic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids. P10.EE treatment (0.005 – 0.1 mg/mL) at 24 and 48h affects cell viability of different tumor cells, with MDA-MB-231 (breast) and DU145 (prostate) the most sensitive ones (IC50 of 0.015 and 0.007 mg/mL after 48h treatment), but is less cytotoxic against non-tumor cells and fibroblasts. Also, cell proliferation and migration decreased significantly along time, with cell cycle alterations and increased cell death in both cell lines. A significant increase in glucose consumption and lactate production was also observed, explained in MDA-MB-231 cells by an increased expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, glucose transporter 1, lactate dehydrogenase and carbonic anhydrase. Concerning antiangiogenic activity, P10.EE induced a decrease in HBMEC cells total biomass and proliferation and decreased vessel sprouting in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane. In conclusion, despite the increase of the glycolytic metabolism, P10.EE can be a good candidate for cancer drug development since it affects different features that dictate tumorigenesis (cell death and proliferation, migration and angiogenesis.

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Eng. Pedro Fernandes (Mel do Abel) for providing propolis sample, the FCT/PTDC/AAC-CLI/118092/2010 and the Chemistry Centre of Coimbra. This work was supported by the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Minho, Portugal, and FCT (SFRH/BD/51997/2012 to V.M.G.), through Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional-QREN-COMPETE, projects PTDC/AAC-CLI/098308/2008 and PTDC/AAC-CLI/118092/2010.Additionally, this work is supported by national funds by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the projects PEst-OE/AGR/UI4033/2014, PEst-OE/QUI/UI0313/2014 and PEst-OE/AGR/UI0681/2011).

References:

[1] Sforcin JM, Bankova V. Propolis: is there a potential for the development of new drugs? J Ethnopharmacol 2011; 133: 253 – 260.

[2] Valença I, Morais-Santos F, Miranda-Goncalves V, Ferreira AM, Almeida-Aguiar C, Baltazar F. Portuguese propolis disturbs glycolytic metabolism of human colorectal cancer in vitro. BMC Complement Altern Med 2013; 13: 184 – 191.

[3] Falcão SI, Vale N, Gomes P, Domingues MR, Freire C., Cardoso SM, Vilas-Boas M. Phenolic Profiling of Portuguese Propolis by LC-MS Spectrometry: Uncommon Propolis Rich in Flavonoid Glycosides.Phytochem Anal 2012; 24: 309 – 318.