Turkish Propolis and Its Nano Form Can Ameliorate the Side Effects of Cisplatin, Which Is a Widely Used Drug in the Treatment of Cancer

Alleviation of LPS-induced acute lung injury by propolis-based nanocomposites through the TLR4/NFKB and P2X7/AKT pathways: Randomized-controlled experimental study

Sepsis-associated acute lung injury continues to pose a significant medical challenge with substantial morbidity and mortality rates. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of propolis-based treatments and their nanocomposites in modulating inflammation and apoptosis using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat model of sepsis. Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups (n = 6): control, LPS (5 mg/kg, i.p.), LPS + Propolis (100 mg/kg, i.p.), LPS + NanoPropolis (100 mg/kg, i.p.), LPS + silver nanoparticles propolis (AgNPsPro) (50 mg/kg), and a negative propolis group (100 mg/kg, i.p.). The rats were assessed for inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptotic markers through Western blot, histopathological analyses, and biochemical measurements. The LPS group exhibited significantly higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) and the systemic infection marker presepsin (PRSN) in blood, as well as the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) in lung tissue. The treatment groups, particularly LPS + AgNPsPro, showed significant reductions in these markers, with decreased levels of MDA, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, and TLR4, and increased GSH content in lung tissue (p < 0.05). The anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 was upregulated, while pro-apoptotic BAX expression was reduced, indicating enhanced cell survival. The P2X7 receptor, a key inflammation regulator, and the AKT signaling pathway, involved in cell survival, were positively modulated by the treatments. Histopathological findings corroborated these results, showing less lung tissue damage. In conclusion, propolis-based treatments, especially in combination with nanoparticles, demonstrate therapeutic potential in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in sepsis-induced lung injury.

Exploration of the protective mechanisms of Icariin against cisplatin-induced renal cell damage in canines

This study delves into the protective mechanisms of Icariin (ICA) against cisplatin-induced damage in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Comprising two distinct phases, the investigation initially employed a single-factor randomized design to ascertain the minimal cisplatin concentration eliciting MDCK cell damage, spanning concentrations from 0 to 16 mmol/L. Concurrently, various concentrations of ICA (ranging from 5 to 50 mmol/L) were combined with 1 mmol/L cisplatin to determine the most efficacious treatment concentration. Subsequent investigations utilized four treatment groups: control, 1 mmol/L cisplatin, 1 mmol/L cisplatin + 20 mmol/L ICA, and 1 mmol/L cisplatin + 25 mmol/L ICA, aimed at elucidating ICA's protective mechanisms. Findings from the initial phase underscored a significant reduction in MDCK cell viability with 1 mmol/L cisplatin in comparison to the control (P < 0.01). Notably, the inclusion of 20 and 25 mmol/L ICA substantively ameliorated MDCK cell viability under 1 mmol/L cisplatin (P < 0.01). Moreover, cisplatin administration induced an elevation in inflammatory factors, malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and Bax protein levels, while concurrently suppressing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and Bcl-2 expression (P < 0.01). Conversely, supplementation of 20 and 25 mmol/L ICA demonstrated a marked increase in mitochondrial membrane potential and levels of SOD, CAT, and Bcl-2 (P < 0.01). These interventions effectively attenuated inflammatory responses and suppressed Bax protein expression (P < 0.05), consequently mitigating cisplatin-induced apoptosis in MDCK cells (P < 0.01). In summary, these findings elucidate the role of ICA in impeding apoptosis in cisplatin-induced MDCK cells by regulating inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and autophagic protein expression.

New insights of propolis nanoformulation and its therapeutic potential in human diseases

Background and purpose

Scientific research is crucial to develop therapies for various disease severity levels, as modern drugs cause side effects and are difficult to predict. Researchers are exploring herbal alternatives with fewer side effects, particularly propolis, which has been validated through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. This will focus on scientific evidence and its supporting technology for developing new bioactive compounds for chronic diseases. Nanotechnology can improve the delivery and absorption of herbal medicines, which often have poor bioavailability due to their high molecular weight and solubility in water, particularly in oral medicines. This technology can enhance propolis's effects through multi-target therapy and reduce side effects.

Experimental approach

All publications related to each section of this review were discovered using the search engines Google Scholar, Scopus, and Pubmed. This was only available for publication between 2013 and 2023. The selected publications were used as references in this review after being thoroughly studied.

Key results

Evaluation of propolis active compounds, the classification of propolis nano formulations, design concepts, and mechanisms of action of propolis nano formulation. Additionally, the challenges and prospects for how these insights can be translated into clinical benefits are discussed.

Conclusion

In the last ten years, a list of nanoformulation propolis has been reported. This review concludes the difficulties encountered in developing large-scale nanoformulations. To commercialize them, improvements in nano carrier synthesis, standardized evaluation methodology within the framework of strategy process improvement, and Good Manufacturing Practices would be required.

Plants: Sources of Diversity in Propolis Properties

Propolis or “bee glue” is a resinous waxy substance that is produced by honeybees (Apis mellifera) by mixing the exudates collected from plants, namely tree buds, sap flows, leaves, branches and barks with their saliva and beeswax. Propolis composition is very complex. Its main constituents are resins and volatiles originating from plants and wax added by the bee. The biological activity of propolis is assigned to these plant-derived substances. The main three types of propolis are European propolis, called poplar type propolis; Green Brazilian propolis (derived mainly from the leaf resin of Baccharis dracunculifolia) and Red Cuban propolis (from the floral resin of Clusia rosea). The plant’s source gives it a specific composition and properties for the propolis types that are coming from different regions of the world. For this reason, studies on the chemical composition of propolis as well as its botanical sources resulting in its geographically conditioned diversity, were a very good theme for the present Special Issue (SI) of Plants journal. The present SI contains nine original contributions addressing propolis plant sources, their chemical composition and different bioactive properties derived from this origin. The chemical composition of propolis that is made by the bees was also discussed, as well as the different medical activities of propolis extract. The papers cover a wide range of subjects, including (i) the plant species used by the bees as raw material for propolis production, (ii) the biological activities of plant extracts related to propolis, (iii) the chemical composition of different types of propolis, (iv) the biological activity of propolis, (v) propolis and human health, and (vi) synergism between plants and propolis in human health. The studies have been carried out in both in vitro and in vivo surveys and a wide range of geographic regions are covered in the sample collection.

Applications of Alginate-Based Nanomaterials in Enhancing the Therapeutic Effects of Bee Products

Since the ancient times, bee products (i.e., honey, propolis, pollen, bee venom, bee bread, and royal jelly) have been considered as natural remedies with therapeutic effects against a number of diseases. The therapeutic pleiotropy of bee products is due to their diverse composition and chemical properties, which is independent on the bee species. This has encouraged researchers to extensively study the therapeutic potentials of these products, especially honey. On the other hand, amid the unprecedented growth in nanotechnology research and applications, nanomaterials with various characteristics have been utilized to improve the therapeutic efficiency of these products. Towards keeping the bee products as natural and non-toxic therapeutics, the green synthesis of nanocarriers loaded with these products or their extracts has received a special attention. Alginate is a naturally produced biopolymer derived from brown algae, the desirable properties of which include biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity. This review presents an overview of alginates, including their properties, nanoformulations, and pharmaceutical applications, placing a particular emphasis on their applications for the enhancement of the therapeutic effects of bee products. Despite the paucity of studies on fabrication of alginate-based nanomaterials loaded with bee products or their extracts, recent advances in the area of utilizing alginate-based nanomaterials and other types of materials to enhance the therapeutic potentials of bee products are summarized in this work. As the most widespread and well-studied bee products, honey and propolis have garnered a special interest; combining them with alginate-based nanomaterials has led to promising findings, especially for wound healing and skin tissue engineering. Furthermore, future directions are proposed and discussed to encourage researchers to develop alginate-based stingless bee product nanomedicines, and to help in selecting suitable methods for devising nanoformulations based on multi-criteria decision making models. Also, the commercialization prospects of nanocomposites based on alginates and bee products are discussed. In conclusion, preserving original characteristics of the bee products is a critical challenge in developing nano-carrier systems. Alginate-based nanomaterials are well suited for this task because they can be fabricated without the use of harsh conditions, such as shear force and freeze-drying, which are often used for other nano-carriers. Further, conjunction of alginates with natural polymers such as honey does not only combine the medicinal properties of alginates and honey, but it could also enhance the mechanical properties and cell adhesion capacity of alginates.

From propolis to nanopropolis: An exemplary journey and a paradigm shift of a resinous substance produced by bees

Propolis, a natural resinous mixture produced by honey bees is poised with diverse biological activities. Owing to the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, and sesquiterpenes, propolis has garnered versatile applications in pharmaceutical industry. The biopharmaceutical issues associated with propolis often beset its use as being too hydrophobic in nature; it is not absorbed in the body well. To combat the problem, various nanotechnological approaches for the development of novel drug delivery systems are generally applied to improve its bioavailability. This paradigm shift and transition of conventional propolis to nanopropolis are evident from the literature wherein a multitude of studies are available on nanopropolis with improved bioavailability profile. These approaches include preparation of gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, liposomes, liquid crystalline formulations, solid lipid nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, etc. Nanopropolis has further been explored to assess the potential benefits of propolis for the development of futuristic useful products such as sunscreens, creams, mouthwashes, toothpastes, and nutritional supplements with improved solubility, bioavailability, and penetration profiles. However, more high-quality clinical studies assessing the effects of propolis either alone or in combination with synthetic drugs as well as natural products are warranted and its safety needs to be firmly established.

The in-vivo assessment of Turkish propolis and its nano form on testicular damage induced by cisplatin

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin (CP), which are associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis, may adversely affect the reproductive system. This study tests whether administration of propolis and nano-propolis (NP) can alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats with testicular damage induced by CP.

METHODS

In this study, polymeric nanoparticles including propolis were synthesized with a green sonication method and characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and wet scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. In total, 56 rats were divided into the following seven groups: control, CP, propolis, NP-10, CP + propolis, CP + NP-10, and CP + NP-30. Propolis (100 mg/kg), NP-10 (10 mg/kg), and NP-30 (30 mg/kg) treatments were administered by gavage daily for 21 d, and CP (3 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally in a single dose. After the experiment, oxidative stress parameters, namely, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT), and apoptotic pathways including B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were measured in testicular tissues. Furthermore, sperm quality and weights of the testis, epididymis, right cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate were evaluated.

RESULTS

Propolis and NP (especially NP-30) were able to preserve oxidative balance (decreased MDA levels and increased GSH, CAT, and GPx activities) and activate apoptotic pathways (decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2) in the testes of CP-treated rats. Sperm motility in the control, CP, and CP + NP-30 groups were 60%, 48.75%, and 78%, respectively (P < 0.001). Especially, NP-30 application completely corrected the deterioration in sperm features induced by CP.

CONCLUSION

The results show that propolis and NP treatments mitigated the side effects of CP on spermatogenic activity, antioxidant situation, and apoptosis in rats.

Nanomaterials and Essential Oils as Candidates for Developing Novel Treatment Options for Bovine Mastitis

Nanomaterials have been used for diagnosis and therapy in the human medical field, while their application in veterinary medicine and animal production is still relatively new. Nanotechnology, however, is a rapidly growing field, offering the possibility of manufacturing new materials at the nanoscale level, with the formidable potential to revolutionize the agri-food sector by offering novel treatment options for prevalent and expensive illnesses such as bovine mastitis. Since current treatments are becoming progressively more ineffective in resistant bacteria, the development of innovative products based on both nanotechnology and phytotherapy may directly address a major global problem, antimicrobial resistance, while providing a sustainable animal health solution that supports the production of safe and high-quality food products. This review summarizes the challenges encountered presently in the treatment of bovine mastitis, emphasizing the possibility of using new-generation nanomaterials (e.g., biological synthesized nanoparticles and graphene) and essential oils, as candidates for developing novel treatment options for bovine mastitis.

Antitumor and Radiosensitizing Effects of Zinc Oxide-Caffeic Acid Nanoparticles against Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma in Female Mice

This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer and radio-sensitizing efficacy of Zinc Oxide-Caffeic Acid Nanoparticles (ZnO-CA NPs). ZnO-CA NPs were formulated by the conjugation of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with caffeic acid (CA) that were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FT-IR), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). In vitro anticancer potential of ZnO-CA NPs was evaluated by assessing cell viability in the human breast (MCF-7) and hepatocellular (HepG2) carcinoma cell lines. In vivo anticancer and radio-sensitizing effects of ZnO-CA NPs in solid Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice (EC mice) were also assessed. Treatment of EC mice with ZnO-CA NPs resulted in a considerable decline in tumor size and weight, down-regulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) gene expressions, decreased vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) level, downregulation of phosphorylated-extracellular-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (p-ERK1/2) protein expression, DNA fragmentation and a recognizable peak at sub-G0/G1 indicating dead cells' population in cancer tissues. Combined treatment of ZnO-CA NPs with γ-irradiation improved these effects. In conclusion: ZnO-CA NPs exhibit in-vitro as well as in-vivo antitumor activity, which is augmented by exposure of mice to γ-irradiation. Further explorations are warranted previous to clinical application of ZnO-CA NPs.

Plant Sources Responsible for the Chemical Composition and Main Bioactive Properties of Poplar-Type Propolis

Propolis is a resinous mixture, made by the honeybees from substances collected from tree or other plant buds, plant exudates, or resins found in the stem, branches, or leaves of different plants. The geographical origin of propolis is given by plant sources from respective areas. Different studies have classified this bee product according to the vegetal material from the same areas. Poplar-type propolis has the widest spread in the world, in the temperate zones from Europe, Asia, or North America. The name is given by the main plant source from where the bees are collecting the resins, although other vegetal sources are present in the mentioned areas. Different Pinus spp., Prunus spp., Acacia spp. and also Betula pendula, Aesculus hippocastanum, and Salix alba are important sources of resins for "poplar-type" propolis. The aim of this review is to identify the vegetal material's chemical composition and activities of plant resins and balms used by the bees to produce poplar-type propolis and to compare it with the final product from similar geographical regions. The relevance of this review is to find the similarities between the chemical composition and properties of plant sources and propolis. The latest determination methods of bioactive compounds from plants and propolis are also reviewed.