Portuguese Version

Year:  2013  Vol. 79   Ed. 4 - (3º)

Carta ao Editor

Pages: 417 to 417

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Propolis and it's emerging anti-neoplastic effects: beyond its role in oral dysplasia

Author(s): Shailendra Kapoor

DOI: 10.5935/1808-8694.20130074

Keywords: cancer symptoms; cancer vaccines; cancerinism; propolis.

TO THE EDITOR

I read with great interest the recent article of Cavalcante et al.¹. Propolis may exert a number of anti-neoplastic effects besides having an inhibitory effect on oral epithelial dysplasia.

For instance, growth inhibition is seen in breast cancer cell lines following administration of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) derived from propolis. CAPE modulates intra-tumor angiogenesis as well causes tumoral apoptosis thus decreasing tumor growth in breast carcinomas². It also attenuates tumor resistance to chemo-therapeutic agents by decreasing expression of the mdr-1 gene. Besides this, it also alters NF-κB function. CAPE treatment of breast cancer stem cells attenuates CD44 levels by almost 95%³. Thus, CAPE decreases self-renewal in breast carcinoma stem cells.

Similarly, methanolic extracts of Mexican propolis have recently been shown to exert cytotoxic effects against pancreatic cancer cell lines. These anti-proliferative effects in pancreatic cells are primarily exerted by two new phenylallylflavanones, (2R,3R)-6-[1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-yl]pinobanksin (1) and (2R,3R)-6-[1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-yl] pinobanksin 3-acetate (2)⁴.

Similarly, water extracts of Turkish propolis decrease cell viability to almost 18% when it is administered to prostate carcinoma cell lines⁵. Similarly, sensitivity to TRAIL induced apoptosis in prostate carcinoma cell lines is augmented by ethanol extracts of Brazilian green propolis⁶. Propolis modulates NF-κB function and thereby helps to overcome resistance to TRAIL. Quercetin, p-coumaric acid and artepillin C are the primary phenolic components that are responsible for these anti-neoplastic effects.

Similarly, Portuguese propolis exhibits cytotoxic effects against renal cell carcinoma cells. Similarly, red propolis inhibits growth in leukemia cell lines. The apoptotic capacity of red propolis is almost the same as gleevec. In addition, green propolis exerts anti-leukemic effects though it is not as potent as red propolis.

The above examples clearly illustrate the anti-neoplastic effects of propolis and the need for further studies in this regard.


REFERENCES

1. Cavalcante DR, Oliveira PS, Góis SM, Soares AF, Cardoso JC, Padilha FF, et al. Effect of green propolis on oral epithelial dysplasia in rats. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2011;77(3):278-84.

2. Wu J, Omene C, Karkoszka J, Bosland M, Eckard J, Klein CB, et al. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), derived from a honeybee product propolis, exhibits a diversity of anti-tumor effects in pre-clinical models of human breast cancer. Cancer Lett. 2011;308(1):43-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2011.04.012

3. Omene CO, Wu J, Frenkel K. Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) derived from propolis, a honeybee product, inhibits growth of breast cancer stem cells. Invest New Drugs. 2012;30(4):1279-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10637-011-9667-8

4. Li F, He YM, Awale S, Kadota S, Tezuka Y. Two new cytotoxic phenylallylflavanones from Mexican propolis. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2011;59(9):1194-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/cpb.59.1194

5. Barlak Y, Değer O, Colak M, Karatayli SC, Bozdayi AM, Yücesan F. Effect of Turkish propolis extracts on proteome of prostate cancer cell line. Proteome Sci. 2011;9:74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/14775956-9-74

6. Szliszka E, Zydowicz G, Janoszka B, Dobosz C, Kowalczyk-Ziomek G, Krol W. Ethanolic extract of Brazilian green propolis sensitizes prostate cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Int J Oncol. 2011;38(4):941-53.










MD.

Send correspondence to:
Shailendra Kapoor
Chicago 74 Crossing Place Mechanicsville
VA, USA
Tel: 865-567-5678. Fax: 865-678-6787
E-mail: shailendrakapoor@yahoo.com

Paper submitted to the BJORL-SGP (Publishing Management System - Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology) on September 29, 2012.
Accepted on October 6, 2012. cod. 10487.

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