Propolis Flavonoids Accelerate Wound Healing

Propolis flavonoids are numerous but those of great interest are CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester), chrysin, kaempferol, pinocembrin, galangin and artepillin C. These vary on the geographical source of propolis, due the wide variety of polyphenols harvested by the honeybees in the region. Nonetheless, the anti-inflammatory effects have great importance for many applications...

Flavonoids in propolis acting on mast cell-mediated wound healing
Inflammapharmacology, 2012 Feb 17
Salvatore Chirumbolo, University of Verona Italy 

Barroso et al. have shown, on the latest issue of Inflammopharmacology, that the topical application of propolis on surgical wounds affected the number of mast cells recruited in these sites, and suggested two well-known anti-inflammatory components present in propolis, namely caffeic acid and artepillin C, as possible active molecules (Borelli et al. 2002; Paulino et al. 2008). It is widely acknowledged that propolis down-regulates type I allergy and inflammation by affecting mast cells, but the effective components of propolis, which cause these effects, remain still unknown.

Propolis components vary depending on the area from which they are collected, mainly because of the genetic variability among wild plants in different geographic regions; variability in phenolics composition may result in different biochemical property of the propolis, depending on the main component active in raw propolis or in its extracts. In Chinese propolis, chrysin, kaempferol and its derivative, pinocembrin and galangin were identified as main flavonoids able to act on mast cell-mediated inflammatory response, while chrysin was shown to inhibit IL-4 and MCP-1 production from antigen-stimulated RBL-2H3 basophil/mast cell lines (Nakumura et al. 2010). On the other hand, Brazilian propolis extract contains only small amounts of these flavonoids, which might suggest that variation in propolis components could affect anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties (Nakumura et al. 2010). Brazilian propolis contains, therefore, major percentage of phenolic acids, such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and artepillin C (Park et al. 2002). 

excerpt online at SpringerLink.com

As the activity of propolis, like many natural products, may be due to the synergic effect of several bioactive components, it will be necessary to distinguish between different types of propolis and analyse its complex compositions to guarantee specific biological activities of propolis diffused worldwide (Frankland Sawaya et al. 2011). Furthermore, inflammation by mast cells can be inhibited by several flavonoids present in propolis. Recent evidence was reported showing that chrysin decreased gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-ά, IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-6 in mast cells by a nuclear factor-κB (NF- κ B) and caspase-1 dependent mechanism (Bae et al. 2011). Genistein modulates NF- κ  B and TNF-ά expression during the early stage of wound healing (Park et al. 2011). CAPE accelerates cutaneous wound healing and its is arguable that propolis with a significant amount of this phenolic acid may exert a wound repairing property (Serarslan et al. 2007). 

The anti-inflammatory property attributed to flavonoids in propolis might suggest that these polyphenols should exert their action toward other newly discovered function of mast cells (Ng 2010), even in association with CAPE or other phenolic acids. Wound healing is a complex process of lysis and reconstitution controlled by a series of cell signaling proteins and involved tissue regeneration and angiogenesis (Hiromatsu and Toda 2003; Nienartowicz et al. 2006). Mast cells have been shown to play a significant role in the early inflammatory stage of wound healing and also influence proliferation and tissue remodeling in skin…

Propolis Found to Inhibit Candida Albicans

The antifungal protection of Propolis is due to its rich, diverse flavonoid content and it's proven control of Candida Albicans has been validated in studies worldwide...

Structural and Genetic Alterations of Fungal Cells Caused by Mexican Propolis

Science against Microbial Pathogens: Communicating Current Research and Technological Advances, 2011, VOL. 2

In order to study the antifungal activity of propolis ethanol extracts (PEE) from Apis mellifera bees from Mexico we used optical microscopy and we were able to see that PEE induced inhibition of germ tube formation of C. albicans.


Ultrastructural findings were seen using transmission electron micrographs of ultrathin sections of Candida albicans revealed that these cells suffered vacuolization, increased formation of storage granules as well as alteration and disruption of the outer structures of yeast, with release of intracellular material. In order to describe the molecular mechanism of action, we evaluate gene expression...

We were able to identify some over- and under-expressed genes. ADH1 y PIK1 genes were under-expressed in a manner dependent on concentration and exposure time. On the other hand, our team has determined the chemical profile of several Mexican propolis, with interesting results as the diversity of content and different levels of antifungal and antibacterial activities…

Although many studies have focused on demonstrating the antifungal activity of propolis and different extracts, few have shown their effects on the morphology and structure of fungi. We have found important cell damage caused by contact with extracts using bright field optical microscopy studies as well as the fluorescent dye White Calcofluor and transmission electron microscopy...

Based on the above results, it can be stated that propolis from the States of Guanajuato and Queretaro showed a higher number of compounds with longer retention time (higher polarity), which was corroborated by the MS study, in which it was found that these compounds were of the flavonoid-type, mainly pinocembrin, naringenin and chrysin, compounds characteristic of plant specimens visited by bees in that geographic locality...

In summary, we succeeded in establishing the chemical content of propolis, with a significant presence of flavonoid type compounds, a prerequisite for such high activity. Similarly, we must remember that the characteristic flora of each region determines the type of propolis bees collect in that locality, and this accounted for the differences in the antimicrobial activity which we found in this study.

Honey May Help Prevent, Treat Cancer

A spoon of honey a day, keeps the doctor away! Honey, it's a natural antioxidant! 

Chrysin Reduces Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in the Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line PC-3
Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2011;66(6):1073-1079

INTRODUCTION: Honey is a common household product with many medicinal uses described in traditional medicine. Only recently has its antioxidant properties and preventive effects against disease been highlighted. Chrysin is a natural flavone commonly found in honey that has been shown to be an antioxidant agent. In this study, we investigated the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of honey and chrysin on cultured human prostate cancer cells.

METHODS: Cells were cultured in RPMI medium and treated with different concentrations of honey and chrysin for three consecutive days. Cell viability was quantitated by the 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by flow cytometry using Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate.

RESULTS: The MTT assay revealed that both compounds had an antiproliferative effect on PC-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 values for honey and chrysin against PC-3 cells were 2.5% and 24.5% after 48 h and 1.8% and 8.5% after 72 h, respectively. Chrysin induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells, as determined by flow cytometry.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that honey has anti-proliferative effects on prostate cancer cells and the effects are mainly due to chrysin. Therefore, chrysin may be a potential compound for both cancer prevention and treatment. Further in vivo investigation is needed to support the use of chrysin in cancer therapy.

Propolis Flavonoid Protects Against UV-Induced Skin Damage

Propolis, the power house of protection, now protects against the sun...


"Chrysin Protects Epidermal Keratinocytes from UVA- and UVB-Induced Damage
J Agric Food Chem, 2011 Jun 24


Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone), a natural flavonoid occurring in various plants and foods such as propolis and honey, reportedly opposes inflammation and carcinogenesis, but has rarely been applied in skin care.


This study, therefore, aimed to explore the roles of chrysin in protection against UV-induced damage in HaCaT keratinocytes.


Results showed that chrysin can attenuate apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression induced by UVB and UVA. Chrysin predominantly reversed the downregulation of aquaporin 3(AQP-3) by UVB. It predominantly reversed JNK activation and also mildly inhibited p38 activation triggered by UVA and UVB. Animal studies revealed that chrysin's topical application demonstrated efficient percutaneous absorption and no skin irritation.


Overall, results demonstrated significant benefits of chrysin on the protection of keratinocytes against UVA- and UVB-induced injuries, and suggested its potential use in skin photoprotection."