Sonoran propolis and some of its chemical constituents inhibit in vitro growth of Giardia lamblia trophozoites.

Propolis is a cereus resin with a complex chemical composition that possesses a wide range of biological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-Giardia lamblia activity of Sonoran propolis collected from three different areas of Sonoran Desert in northwestern Mexico (Caborca, Pueblo de Alamos, and Ures) and some of its chemical constituents. Additionally, we also analyzed the seasonal effect on the anti-G. lamblia activity of propolis. G. lamblia trophozoite cultures were treated with different concentrations of Sonoran propolis or chemical compounds during 48 h cell proliferation and cell viability were determined. Ures propolis showed the highest inhibitory activity against G. lamblia (IC50 63.8 ± 7.1 µg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner (Ures > Pueblo de Alamos > Caborca). Season had a significant effect on the in vitro anti-G. lamblia activity of Ures propolis. Summer propolis showed the highest inhibitory effect on the G. lamblia trophozoite growth (IC50 23.8 ± 2.3 µg/mL), followed by propolis collected during winter (IC50 59.2 ± 34.7 µg/mL), spring (IC50 102.5 ± 15.3 µg/mL), and autumn (IC50 125.0 ± 3.1 µg/mL). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, an Ures propolis exclusive constituent, had the highest growth-inhibitory activity towards G. lamblia [IC50 63.1 ± 0.9 µg/mL (222.1 ± 3.2 µM)]. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that caffeic acid phenethyl ester possesses antiparasitic activity against G. lamblia. Naringenin [IC50 125.7 ± 20.7 µg/mL (461.8 ± 76.3 µM)], hesperetin [IC50 149.6 ± 24.8 µg/mL (494.9 ± 82.2 µM)], and pinocembrin [IC50 174.4 ± 26.0 µg/mL (680.6 ± 101.7 µM)] showed weak anti-G. lamblia activity. On the other hand, chrysin and rutin did not show significant antiparasitic activity. In conclusion, our results suggest that Sonoran propolis and some of its chemical constituents had inhibitory effects on the in vitro growth of G. lamblia trophozoites.

Longitudinal evidence on the association between interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein with the loss of total appendicular skeletal muscle in free-living older men and women.

BACKGROUND: there is no longitudinal evidence about the association between the loss of total appendicular skeletal muscle (TASM) and cytokines. OBJECTIVE: to investigate whether high levels of the inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with the loss of TASM in free-living non-sarcopenic older people. DESIGN: five-year prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: one hundred and fifteen free-living non-sarcopenic older men and women aged 60-84 years at baseline and 5-year follow-up were included. METHODS: TASM was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the relative change in TASM was calculated. The response variable was the loss of TASM defined as the lowest sex-specific 15th percentile of the cohort distribution of percentage of change in TASM. The exposure variables were the baseline serum IL-6 and CRP levels measured by ELISA. RESULTS: sixteen subjects were below the sex-specific 15th percentile of the cohort. The mean absolute loss of TASM in these men and women subjects was 1.9 and 1.3 kg, respectively. The risk of loss TASM was 1.29 times higher (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.64) (P = 0.03) per unit of increase in IL-6 (pg/ml) and 1.28 times higher (95% CI, 1.04-1.58) (P = 0.01) per unit of increase in CRP (mg/l). As a categorical variable, the risk of loss TASM was 4.85 times higher (95% CI, 1.24-18.97) among subjects with serum IL-6 >2.71 pg/ml and 3.97 times higher (CI 95%, 1.09-14.39) among subjects with serum CRP >3.74 mg/l. These findings remained after adjusting for age, sex and 5-year weight change. CONCLUSIONS: inflammation is associated with the loss of TASM in free-living non-sarcopenic older men and women.

Sonoran propolis: chemical composition and antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines.

In this study, we have analyzed the chemical composition and antiproliferative activity of propolis from three different arid and semiarid regions of Sonora, Mexico. We identified and quantitated the main chemical constituents of propolis by HPLC-MS. The most abundant constituents of propolis were pinocembrin, pinobanksin 3-acetate, and chrysin. Sonoran propolis had a strong antiproliferative activity on both murine and human cancer cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. The propolis constituents CAPE, galangin, xanthomicrol and chrysin showed significant antiproliferative activity on most of the cancer cells tested. DNA harvested from cancer cell cultures treated with Sonoran propolis exhibited a ladder of internucleosomal DNA cleavage characteristic of apoptosis. In summary, we have identified and quantitated the main constituents of Sonoran propolis. These propolis samples possess a strong antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines.