Mishima S, Ono Y, Araki Y, Akao Y, Nozawa Y.
Source
API Co. Ltd., R&D, Gifu, Japan.
Abstract
Honey bee propolis is rich in cinnamic acid derivatives. Baccharin and drupanin from Brazilian honey bee propolis are cinnamic acid derivatives that contain prenyl moieties. We previously isolated these two compounds and demonstrated that they induce an apoptotic event in several tumor cell lines. In this study, we examined the tumoricidal activity of baccharin and drupanin in mice allografted with sarcoma S-180 and also studied the genotoxic effects on normal splenocytes using the alkaline single cell gel (comet) assay. We found that both baccharin and drupanin effectively suppressed growth of the tumor. Furthermore, these compounds induced a significant genotoxic effect on the tumor cells in comparison with normal splenocytes. Thus, baccharin and drupanin are potent tumor suppressive components of honeybee propolis.
* THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.