Bee Propolis May Combat Prostate Cancer

[Harry Hirsute]

"In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of ethanolic extracts of Brazilian propolis group l2 and bud resins of botanical origin (B. dracunculifolia), and propolis group 3 on proliferation of metastasis (DU145 and PC-3) and primary malignant tumor (RC58T/h/SA#4)-derived human prostate cancer cells.

The strongest inhibition was observed in propolis group 3 (sample #3) extracts whereas moderate growth inhibition was observed in human prostate epithelial cells.

In the RC58T/h/SA#4 cells, resins of botanical origin of propolis group 12 (sample #1) and propolis group 12 (sample #2) induced growth inhibition that was associated with S phase arrest whereas propolis group 3 (sample #3) induced growth inhibition that was associated with G2 arrest.

The mechanisms of cell cycle effects of propolis were investigated. The resins of botanical origin of propolis group 12 and propolis group 12 showed similar inhibition of cyclin D1, CDK4 and cyclin B1 expression. Propolis group 3 showed higher induction of p21 expression but no inhibition of cyclin D1, CDK4 and cyclin B1 expression.

The results obtained here demonstrate that the Brazilian propolis extracts have significant inhibitory effect on proliferation of human prostate cancer cells.

Inhibition was achieved through regulation of protein expression of cyclin D1, B1 and cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) as well as p21," wrote H. Li and colleagues, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Center for Prostate Disease Research.

The researchers concluded: "Our results indicate that the Brazilian propolis extracts show promise as chemotherapeutic agents as well as preventive agents against prostate cancer."

Li and colleagues published the results of their research in International Journal of Oncology (Antiproliferation of human prostate cancer cells by ethanolic extracts of Brazilian propolis and its botanical origin. International Journal of Oncology, 2007;31(3):601-6).

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