Brazilian Brown Propolis: an Overview About Its Chemical Composition, Botanical Sources, Quality Control, and Pharmacological Properties.

Brazil is one of the largest propolis producers in the world. Propolis is produced by bees from plant exudates and tissues, leading to many variations in the types of propolis. Generally, Brazilian propolis types are green, brown, and red. Despite not being the main research focus as the green and red propolis, brown propolis is the second most produced propolis type in Brazil and has tremendous economic and medicinal importance. Propolis has drawn attention with the rise in the search for healthier lifestyles, functional foods, biocosmetics, and natural products as therapeutic sources. This review covers the main chemical constituents identified in different types of Brazilian brown propolis, and their botanical sources, chemistry, and biological activities. The economic aspect of brown propolis is also presented. There are many gaps to be filled for brown propolis regarding the development of analytical methods, and quality control to allow its standardization, limiting its applicability in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Future perspectives regarding brown propolis research were discussed, especially biological activities, to support the medicinal uses of different types of brown propolis. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43450-023-00374-x.

Guttiferone E Displays Antineoplastic Activity Against Melanoma Cells.

Guttiferone E (GE) is a benzophenone found in Brazilian red propolis. In the present study, the effect of GE on human (A-375) and murine (B16-F10) melanoma cells was investigated. GE significantly reduced the cellular viability of melanoma cells in a time-dependent manner. In addition, GE demonstrated antiproliferative effect, with IC50 values equivalent to 9.0 and 6.6 µM for A-375 and B16-F10 cells, respectively. The treatment of A-375 cells with GE significantly increased cell populations in G0/G1 phase and decreased those in G2/M phase. Conversely, on B16-F10 cells, GE led to a significant decrease in the populations of cells in G0/G1 phase and concomitantly an increase in the population of cells in phase S. A significantly higher percentage of apoptotic cells was observed in A-375 (43.5%) and B16-F10 (49.9%) cultures after treatment with GE. Treatments with GE caused morphological changes and significant decrease to the melanoma cells' density. GE (10 µM) inhibited the migration of melanoma cells, with a higher rate of inhibition in B16-F10 cells (73.4%) observed. In addition, GE significantly reduced the adhesion of A375 cells, but showed no effect on B16-F10. Treatment with GE did not induce changes in P53 levels in A375 cultures. Molecular docking calculations showed that GE is stable in the active sites of the tubulin dimer with a similar energy to taxol chemotherapy. Taken together, the data suggest that GE has promising antineoplastic potential against melanoma.

Brazilian southeast brown propolis: gas chromatography method development for its volatile oil analysis, its antimicrobial and leishmanicidal activities evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Propolis is widely used in folk medicine, and many factors can affect its chemical composition, including abiotic factors that can influence plants and bees. Therefore, analytical methods are powerful techniques in the quality control of such products. OBJECTIVE: Develop and validate an analytical method for quantifying volatile compounds in Brazilian brown propolis, and evaluate its biological activities. METHODS: A gas chromatography flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) analytical method was validated, attending the parameters of international validation guidelines as ANVISA 2017 and ICH 2005, for quantification of compounds present in volatile oils from propolis. Evaluation of cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and leishmanicidal activities of the oil. RESULTS: The compounds 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, α-copaene, ß-caryophyllene, γ-muurolene, nerolidol, spathulenol, and γ-palmitolactone were isolated from the volatile fraction of a Brazilian brown propolis and used in the method validation. All the validation parameters of the method were satisfactory. The volatile fraction displayed a significant leishmanicidal activity, with half maximal inhibition concentration (IC50 ) = 21.3 µg/mL against amastigote forms and IC50 = 25.1 µg/mL against promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. The oil also displayed an antibacterial effect by inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus at 25 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL, respectively, but it was not cytotoxic against AGP-01, He-La and CHO-K1cell lines, with IC50 > 100 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: The GC-FID method can be a useful tool in the quality control of propolis material. The southeast brown propolis showed a high chemical complexity in its volatile fraction, which displayed leishmanicidal activity and bactericidal activity.

The gastroprotective effect of red propolis extract from Northeastern Brazil and the role of its isolated compounds.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Propolis has been used in folk medicine to treat gastric disorders for centuries. However, although studies have been conducted to validate the gastroprotective and anti-ulcer activity of some types of propolis, red propolis activity remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to evaluate the gastroprotective effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of red propolis (HERP), its mode of action, and the main compounds involved in its activity, therefore contributing to validate the chemical and pharmacological potential of this product. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effect of HERP (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg p.o. and 30 mg/kg i.p.), and the isolated compounds vestitol (VS), neovestitol (NV), methylvestitol (MV), medicarpin (MD), and oblongifolin AB (OB) (10 mg/kg p.o.) were evaluated on gastric ulcers induced by 60% ethanol/0.3 M HCl (5 mL/kg, p.o.) in mice. Histological changes and mucin levels were assessed by HE and PAS, respectively. Moreover, oxidative stress parameters and myeloperoxidase activity were analyzed on ulcerated tissue. The effect of HERP on gastric acid secretion was evaluated by pyloric ligature model and the mechanisms involved in its gastroprotective effect were investigated by pretreating mice with L-NAME (a non-selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 70 mg/kg, i.p.), NEM (a sulfhydryl group chelator, 10 mg/kg, i.p.), yohimbine (an alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist, 2 mg/kg, i.p.) and indomethacin (a non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, 10 mg/kg, i.p.). RESULTS: HERP (300 mg/kg p.o. or 30 mg/kg i.p.), MV, and MD (10 mg/kg p.o.) protected gastric mucosa against the damage induced by ethanol/HCl. Histological changes were attenuated by the HERP, MV, and MD. Moreover, HERP and MV increased mucin levels. Besides, oxidative stress and MPO activity were reduced by the three treatments. HERP did not display anti-secretory action, but its effect was abolished by indomethacin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: HERP displays gastroprotective property against ethanol/HCl-induced damage. Its effect is dependent on prostaglandins and mucin production. The compounds MV and MD may have an essential role in the activity of HERP. Our data contribute to validate the traditional use of propolis for gastric disorders.

Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. and Symphonia globulifera L.f.: The Botanical Sources of Isoflavonoids and Benzophenones in Brazilian Red Propolis.

The Brazilian red propolis (BRP) constitutes an important commercial asset for northeast Brazilian beekeepers. The role of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. (Fabaceae) as the main botanical source of this propolis has been previously confirmed. However, in addition to isoflavonoids and other phenolics, which are present in the resin of D. ecastaphyllum, samples of BRP are reported to contain substantial amounts of polyprenylated benzophenones, whose botanical source was unknown. Therefore, field surveys, phytochemical and chromatographic analyses were undertaken to confirm the botanical sources of the red propolis produced in apiaries located in Canavieiras, Bahia, Brazil. The results confirmed D. ecastaphyllum as the botanical source of liquiritigenin (1), isoliquiritigenin (2), formononetin (3), vestitol (4), neovestitol (5), medicarpin (6), and 7-O-neovestitol (7), while Symphonia globulifera L.f. (Clusiaceae) is herein reported for the first time as the botanical source of polyprenylated benzophenones, mainly guttiferone E (8) and oblongifolin B (9), as well as the triterpenoids ß-amyrin (10) and glutinol (11). The chemotaxonomic and economic significance of the occurrence of polyprenylated benzophenones in red propolis is discussed.

Development of a Validated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method and Optimization of the Extraction of Lignans from Piper cubeba.

Piper cubeba L. f. is a food seasoning, which contains secondary metabolites displaying several biological properties, such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic activities. The lignans (+)-dihydroclusin, (-)-clusin, (-)-cubebin, (-)-yatein, and (-)-haplomyrfolin were isolated, with (-)-haplomyrfolin reported for the first time in P. cubeba seeds. Chromatographic standards were used to develop a reliable reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analytical method according to the Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária and International Conference on Harmonization guidelines to quantitate these lignans in both P. cubeba seeds and their extracts. The extraction of the lignans was also optimized, with the best conditions being ultrasound-assisted extraction, with 84% aqueous ethanol for 38 min in a single extraction. This procedure allows for the extraction of more than 80% of the total lignans, which is better in comparison to other techniques, such as maceration and Soxhlet extraction.