Characteristics, chemical compositions and biological activities of propolis from Al-Bahah, Saudi Arabia.
Propolis has been used to treat several diseases since ancient times, and is an important source of bioactive natural compounds and drug derivatives. These properties have kept the interest of investigators around the world, leading to the investigation of the chemical and biological properties and application of propolis. In this report, the chemical constituents that are responsible for the anticancer activities of propolis were analyzed. The propolis was sourced from Al-Baha in the southern part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Standard protocols for chemical fractionation and bioactivity-guided chemical analysis were used to identify the bio-active ethyl acetate fraction. The extraction was performed in methanol and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major compounds are triterpenoids, with a relative concentration of 74.0%; steroids, with a relative concentration of 9.8%; and diterpenoids, with a relative concentration of 7.9%. The biological activity was characterized using different approaches and cell-based assays. Propolis was found to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner through apoptosis. Immunofluorescence staining with anti-α-tubulin antibodies and cell cycle analysis indicated that tubulin and/or microtubules are the cellular targets of the L-acetate fraction. This study demonstrates the importance of Saudi propolis as anti-cancer drug candidates.
College of Sciences, Department of Zoology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Yasser A
YA
Elnakady
Chair of Green Energy Research, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.|ETAL Consulting and Service, 2951 SE Midvale Drive, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.
Ahmed I
AI
Rushdi
Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
Raimo
R
Franke
Chair of Bio-product, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Nael
N
Abutaha
College of Sciences, Department of Zoology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Hossam
H
Ebaid
Chair of Bio-product, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Mohannad
M
Baabbad
Chair of Engineering Abdullah Baqshan for Bee Research, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed O M
MO
Omar
Chair of Engineering Abdullah Baqshan for Bee Research, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad A
AA
Al Ghamdi
D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D017097:Electric Impedance; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D000085:Acetates; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D011429:Propolis; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase