Antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of propolis from Melipona orbignyi (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2014-03, Vol.65, p.374-380
• Main Authors: Campos, Jaqueline Ferreira, dos Santos, Uilson Pereira, Macorini, Luis Fernando Benitez, de Melo, Adriana Mary Mestriner Felipe, Balestieri, José Benedito Perrella, Paredes-Gamero, Edgar Julian, Cardoso, Claudia Andrea Lima, de Picoli Souza, Kely, dos Santos, Edson Lucas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-tumor activity; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Apidae; Bees - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Candida albicans; Chemotherapy; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Hemolysis; Humans; Hymenoptera; K562 Cells; Lipid peroxidation; Medical sciences; Melipona; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Necrosis; Oxidative stress; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Propolis - pharmacology; Staphylococcus aureus; Stingless bee; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2014.01.008

[Display omitted] •Cytotoxic activity of Brazilian stingless bee propolis (Melipona orbignyi).•Propolis from Melipona orbignyi: antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.•Biological activity of the Melipona orbignyi (Manduri do Mato Grosso) stingless bee.•Therapeutic potential of propolis from Melipona orbignyi (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Propolis from stingless bees is well known for its biologic properties; however, few studies have demonstrated these effects. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of propolis from the stingless bee Melipona orbignyi, found in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The chemical composition of the ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) indicated the presence of aromatic acids, phenolic compounds, alcohols, terpenes and sugars. The EEP was active against the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. The EEP showed antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals and inhibiting hemolysis and lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes incubated with an oxidizing agent. Additionally, EEP promoted cytotoxic activity and primarily necrotic death in K562 erythroleukemia cells. Taken together, these results indicate that propolis from M. orbignyi has therapeutic potential for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases related to microorganism activity, oxidative stress and tumor cell proliferation.