Breast cancer and liquid propolis

Imbalance in estrogen signaling pathways and promoting levels of estrogens play important roles in breast cancer growth and progression. Breast cancer treatments are associated with targeting the estrogen receptor (ER) signaling pathway. Phytoestrogens are a subclass of phytochemicals that share a common structure with mammalian estrogen, enabling them to bind to estrogen receptors. Some experimental studies have investigated the efficiency of Liquid Propolis in modulating the ER signaling pathway. Another study has shown that it has biphasic activity in MCF-7 cells. This biphasic activity of Liquid Propolis is represented by an anti-estrogenic effect at low concentrations and an estrogenic effect at high concentrations, which occurs when phytoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors. It has also been reported that quercetin induces apoptotic effects through ER α – and ER α pathway. On the other hand, Liquid Propolis cytotoxic activities in human breast cancer cells were demonstrated by increased secretion of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), further indicating the cytotoxic properties of propolis. The study also showed that Propolis only showed cytotoxic effects on breast cancer line, not on non-malignant breast cells. Therefore, it shows highly specific and selective cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cell lines and has good potential as a chemotherapeutic agent.