Liquid Propolis and Its Anticancer Potential

Studies have found propolis to exhibit antiproliferative as well as radioactive properties. Some animal studies have also noted potential antitumor activities. According to a 2014 article published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, propolis may specifically induce apoptosis in cancer cells.

Review of anticancer activities of bee products

Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Science, Biotechnology Program, 254 Phayathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Bee products have long been used in traditional medicine. Raw materials, crude extracts and active compounds purified from them have been found to exhibit interesting biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In addition, they are widely used in the treatment of many immune system-related diseases and, more recently, in the treatment of tumors. Bee product peptides have been used to induce apoptotic cell death in vitro, including those derived from renal, lung, liver, prostate, bladder and lymphoid cancers. Therefore, these bioactive natural products may be useful as part of a new targeted therapy for some types of cancer, such as prostate and breast cancer. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the in vivo and in vitro potential of selective bee products against tumor cells. However, it is said that the results depend on the concentration of the product used.

Another 2016 study investigates the radioprotective potential of this bee product specifically in bee cells.

Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences Volume 9, Issue 4, 13 October 2016, Page 431-440

Evaluation of the radioprotective effect of propolis in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. A new perspective for an ancient honeybee product:

Ionizing radiation is widely used in cancer treatment. However, one of the limitations of using radiation is its toxic effects on normal tissue. Radiation damage to normal tissue can be partially reduced by using radioprotectors that scavenge free radicals produced during radiation. Recently, interest in developing plant-derived potential drugs for modifying radiation effects has increased and has the advantage of low or non-toxicity and minimal side effects over synthetic compounds. Propolis is a culture product consisting of nutritionally valuable substances and containing significant amounts of polyphenol substances. Flavonoids and phenolic acids are the main classes of polyphenolic compounds. Due to its broad-spectrum biological properties, interest in propolis as a harmless drug has increased.

Purpose of the work

This study was conducted to evaluate the radioprotective effect of propolis supplementation in breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Subjects and methods

The study included 135 subjects divided into three main groups: Group I: 45 healthy women were age-matched as controls and menopausal status matched with subsequent malignant groups.

Group II: 45 received chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy only for breast cancer patients.

Group III: 45 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy received propolis supplements. Two venous blood samples were taken from both breast cancer patient groups (before and after radiotherapy) and one blood sample from matched controls. DNA damage in mononuclear cells was assessed by alkaline Comet assay. Serum was separated to measure ribonucleotide reductase M2 subunit (RRM2) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Malonaldhyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and iron were tested by colorimetric method. One ml blood sample was taken into EDTA tubes for whole blood picture analysis.

Results

In this study, radiotherapy was accompanied by a significant increase in Comet tail parameters (Tail length, % Tail DNA, Tail moment) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of BC patients. In the patient group supported with propolis and radiotherapy, propolis was found to have the ability to significantly reduce radiation-induced DNA damage. Regarding the RRM2 subunit, radiotherapy significantly decreased RRM2 protein but it was still significantly higher than the normal control value. On the other hand, propolis supplementation during radiotherapy caused a significant reduction in RRM2 level and was at the normal control level. In addition, propolis supplementation accompanied radiotherapy with a significant increase in serum MDA and a significant decrease in serum TAC after plus radiotherapy, serum MDA and serum TAC were significantly improved. Regarding hematological parameters including serum iron and hemoglobin (HB) concentration, white blood cells (WBCs) and platelet counts decreased significantly after radiotherapy treatment alone, radiotherapy plus propolis, and this entered the normal control level.

Results

Propolis supplementation with radiotherapy treatment offers highly measurable protection against ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage in leukocytes of BC patients and inhibits RRM2 overexpression. Furthermore, propolis has beneficial effects on serum antioxidant capacity and increases the digestive utilization of iron and the regeneration efficiency of hemoglobin. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Bee products have long been used in traditional medicine. Raw materials, crude extracts and active compounds purified from them have been found to exhibit interesting biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In addition, they are widely used in the treatment of many immune system-related diseases and, more recently, in the treatment of tumors. Bee product peptides induce apoptotic cell death in vitro in several transformed human (cancer) cell lines, including those derived from renal, lung, liver, prostate, bladder and lymphoid cancers. Therefore, these bioactive natural products may be useful as part of a new targeted therapy for some types of cancer, such as prostate and breast cancer. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the in vivo and in vitro potential of selective bee products against tumor cells. It shows that the use of propolis in radiotherapy can not only protect against radiation damage but also increase the radiosensitivity of breast cancer cells.