title: The role of the phenethyl ester of caffeic acid (CAPE) in the inhibition of rat lung cyclooxygenase activity by propolis.
abstract: In this study we investigated the effect of an ethanolic extract of propolis, with and without CAPE, and some of its components on cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. Propolis (0.00003-0.03%) significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited COX activity from lung homogenate of saline- or LPS-treated rats. Same results were obtained with CAPE (0.1-100 microM). COX activity from lung homogenate of saline- or LPS-treated rats was also inhibited by galangin (0.1-100 microM), although the inhibition induced by the lowest concentration was not significant. Caffeic, ferulic, cinnamic and chlorogenic acids and pinocembrin, (0.1-100 microM) did not affect COX activity. The inhibition curves showed that CAPE and propolis were equipotent inhibitors, whereas galangin was significantly (P<0.001) less potent than propolis and CAPE. In order to better investigate the role of CAPE, we tested the action of an ethanolic extract of propolis (0.00003-0.03%) without CAPE. This extract significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited COX activity from lung homogenate of saline- or LPS-treated rats, however, it resulted to be approximately 10 times less potent than the extract containing CAPE. The analysis of the inhibition curves of the extract with and without CAPE showed a significant (P<0.001) difference. These results suggest that both CAPE and galangin contribute to the overall activity of propolis, CAPE being more effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sautebin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011429:Propolis / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: C078129:6-keto-prostaglandin F2alpha; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; C037032:galangin; D011429:Propolis; D015237:Dinoprost; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C055494:caffeic acid phenethyl ester; D015232:Dinoprostone; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol