Phytomedicine Plus (May 2022)

Exploring the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiallergic potential of Brazilian propolis in monocytes

  • Fernanda Lopes Conte,
  • Ana Catarina Pereira,
  • Gonçalo Brites,
  • Isabel Ferreira,
  • Ana Cristina Silva,
  • Ana Isabel Sebastião,
  • Patrícia Matos,
  • Cláudia Pereira,
  • Maria Teresa Batista,
  • José Maurício Sforcin,
  • Maria Teresa Cruz

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 2
p. 100231

Abstract

Read online

Background: Propolis is a bee product used since ancient times due to its diverse biological applications. We aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action of Brazilian propolis in THP-1 cells stimulated with 1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (DNFB) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: Cell viability was assessed by resazurin assay, antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay, superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 and 2 activity was evaluated by colorimetric assay. CD86 expression was determined by flow cytometry. IL-1β and HMOX-1 were analysed by Western blot. Results: Propolis did not affect cell viability and exhibited a potent antioxidant activity. Propolis alone induced SOD 1 activity. LPS stimulated SOD2, concomitantly or not with propolis. In the presence of LPS, propolis induced a higher HMOX-1 expression. Propolis inhibited CD86 expression stimulated by DNFB. LPS induced pro-IL-1β expression and propolis did not affect its action. Conclusion: Propolis exhibited an antioxidant action in a cell-free system and in a cell based-model. Propolis exerted an anti-inflammatory/antiallergic action, probably due to its antioxidant activity.

Keywords