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Researching disinfection strategies is pivotal because effectively eliminating bacteria and their byproducts during root canal treatment (RCT) remains a challenge. This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of natural antimicrobial compounds, propolis (PRO) and copaiba oil-resin (COR), compared to conventional agents in Endodontics. Antimicrobials were tested against endodontic pathogens via macrodilution with standardized inoculums to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Biofilm killing efficacy were performed using two dual-species biofilms: Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) and Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 20523) and Streptococcus oralis (J22) and Actinomyces naeslundii (T14V-J1) grown on dentine discs. At the intratubular level (dentine cylinders), dentine tubule contamination was performed with E. faecalis and S. mutans. The specimens were exposed to antimicrobials to simulate their use at different sets of RCT and bacterial viability was quantified using Live/Dead staining via confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Biofilm characteristics and immediate removal of S. oralis and A. naeslundii biofilm model were evaluated employing optical coherence tomography (OCT) and CFU/mL counting. Statistical tests were applied according to data distribution for each analysis (α=0.05). Macrodilutions showed different effects against endodontic pathogens. Direct contact and intratubular analysis showed that PRO and COR promoted disinfection like conventional agents (p > 0.05). According to OCT analysis, PRO and COR showed similar biofilm reduction after immediate contact (p < 0.05). CFU/mL counting showed decontamination (p < 0.05) after using natural and conventional agents. PRO and COR showed antimicrobial effects, indicating their suitability as complementary approaches in RCT to eliminate as much microbial load as possible., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Stingless bee honey is a natural product consisting of sugars, organic acids, proteins, minerals, vitamins, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Due to its healing properties, honey is often used in phytotherapy and for homemade syrups. The search for natural therapeutic alternatives has been an increasing trend in recent years, mainly due to the side effects of artificial drugs and increasing antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize physicochemical properties and the antimicrobial activity of honey from different species of stingless bees against the pathogenicity of the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs). Honey samples from 15 different species of stingless bees from different regions of Brazil were used, and the analysis was performed by the broth microdilution method. We found a large variation in the physicochemical features among all the samples and no correlation to the MIC or MBC. It was also found that honey produced by Melipona rufiventris and Scaptotrigona tubiba were the most effective in combating pathogenic microorganisms due to its high antimicrobial activity, comparable to the results found for propolis. These data are important for the development of new strategies for the prevention and control of diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms.

Cadmium (Cd), one of the toxic heavy metals, is of great importance for public health due to its use in many industrial areas. Propolis is a natural product with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties collected from plants by honey bees. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of propolis against the potential toxic effects of cadmium chloride in blood, liver and kidney tissues. For this purpose, rats were divided into four groups. Control group, propolis (150 mg/kg b.w.) treated group, cadmium chloride (1.76 mg/kg b.w. 1/50 LD 50 ) treated group and cadmium chloride plus propolis (1.76 mg/kg b.w. and 150 mg/kg b.w. respectively) treated group. The substances were given to rats by gavage for 28 days. After 28 days of treatment, a statistically significant change was observed in serum biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST, BUN, LDH, urea, uric acid and creatinine, hematological parameters such as erythrocyte, hemoglobin and hematocrit, and IL-1β and IL-6 cytokine levels of cadmium chloride treated rats compared to the control group. In addition, significant changes were observed in mRNA expression levels of Casp-3, p53 and Tnf-α genes, HSP70, HSP90 and GRP78 protein levels and histopathological/immunohistochemical examinations. Improvement in biochemical and hematologic parameters, cytokines, mRNA expression, heat shock proteins and immunohistochemistry changes were observed in cadmium plus propolis treated group compared to cadmium treated group., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors disclaim any potential conflicts of interest that may have influenced the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources and has been used in traditional folk medicine for centuries. Propolis has various biological properties, including antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. The use of propolis in oral health care is attributable to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. However, limited evidence exists on the in vivo efficacy of propolis against periodontal pathogens., Aim of the Study: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Brazilian green propolis (BGP)-containing toothpaste for improving the oral environment and define its antibacterial compounds., Materials and Methods: Overall, 48 student volunteers aged 18-40 years (24 females and 24 males) were randomly categorized into the BGP and placebo groups. The BGP and placebo groups received toothpaste with and without BGP, respectively. After a baseline assessment, the plaque index (PI) score, gingival index (GI) score, and proportion of periodontal pathogens on the tongue surface were analyzed at 0, 1, and 2 weeks. Antibacterial compounds were identified using liquid-liquid partitioning, high-performance liquid chromatography purification, and nuclear magnetic resonance methods., Results: The concentration of BGP in the toothpaste was set at 0.0347 w/v%. Compared with the placebo group, the BGP group demonstrated a reduction in the PI score (p < 0.05) but not in the GI score, as well as a reduction in Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg)/Total bacteria (Tb), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn)/Tb, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa)/Tb (p < 0.05) but not in Streptococcus salivalius/Tb. Effect sizes for Pg, Fn and Aa were 0.360, 0.556, and 0.164, respectively. The antibacterial compounds of the BGP-containing toothpaste included a mixture of kaempferide/betuletol., Conclusions: We confirmed the efficacy of propolis toothpaste with an optimal kaempferide/betuletol ratio for improving oral microbiota, thereby suggesting that BGP toothpaste is clinically useful in maintaining oral health and preventing periodontal disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: Encephalitozoon intestinalis is an obligate intracellular microsporidian fungus that causes severe gastrointestinal infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Propolis (PROP), a resinous substance derived from bees, has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, while royal jelly (RJ) has immunomodulatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of PROP and RJ against E. intestinalis., Methods: The phenolic composition of PROP was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection, and the chemical components of RJ were evaluated according to ISO12824 standards. The cytotoxicity of PROP and RJ on HEK-293 cells was evaluated using the XTT assay. The three highest non-cytotoxic concentrations of each sample were tested for their effects on E. intestinalis spores by qRT-PCR. Trichrome-stained photomicrographs were used to assess spore density in HEK-293 cells treated with PROP and RJ., Results: PROP analysis revealed flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, pinocembrin and galangin, as well as phenolic acids such as caffeic and cinnamic acids, known for their bioactive properties. RJ contained mainly proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and sugars, reflecting its role as a nutritionally and biologically active substance. According to the results of this first study evaluating the effect of PROP and RJ on E. intestinalis, all concentrations evaluated in the study showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of E. intestinalis spores compared to the control group., Conclusion: In conclusion, we believe that PROP and RJ should be considered as an alternative option in the development of antimicrosporidial drugs due to their potential medicinal and pharmaceutical properties., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Propolis, as a by-product of honey production, has shown several beneficial effects on cardiovascular risks in past randomised controlled trials, although the findings are not conclusive. In this review, we intend to evaluate the effects of propolis consumption on cardiovascular risk factors by conducting a meta-analysis. The Web of Science, Medline and Scopus databases were comprehensively searched until September 2023. Eligible studies were identified by screening, and their data were extracted. Weighted mean differences with a 95 % CI for each outcome were estimated using the random-effects model. This meta-analysis revealed that propolis consumption led to a significant decrease in the levels of TAG (weighted mean differences (WMD): -10·44 mg/dl 95 % CI: -16·58, -4·31; P = 0·001), LDL-cholesterol (WMD: -9·31 mg/dl; 95 % CI: -13·50, -5·12 mg; P < 0·001), fasting blood glucose (WMD: -7·30 mg/dl; 95 % CI: -11·58, -3·02; P = 0·001), HbA1c (WMD: -0·32 %; 95 % CI: -0·60, -0·05; P = 0·01), insulin (WMD: -1·36 μU/ml; 95 % CI: -2·36, -0·36; P = 0·007), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (WMD: -0·39; 95 % CI: -0·74, -0·03; P = 0·020) and systolic blood pressure (WMD: -2·24 mmHg 95 % CI: -4·08, -0·39; P = 0·010), compared with the control groups. Furthermore, propolis consumption had a significant increasing effect on HDL-cholesterol levels (WMD: 2·03 mg/dl; 95 % CI: 0·24, 3·83; P = 0·020). In contrast, the consumption of propolis had no significant effect on total cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure levels. This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis suggested that propolis intake may be effective in cardiometabolic improvement in adults. Further, well-designed studies are required to confirm and elucidate all aspects of these findings.

Studies show that propolis has antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties, and may protect against diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. We aimed to extract compounds of brown propolis with hydroalcoholic solvents and evaluate their cytotoxic activity on tumor and non-tumor cells by MTT test. We tested the solute:solvent ratio (ethanol:water) and extraction time in a Shaker incubator (710 rpm) before conducting a central composite rotational design (CCRD) to optimize time and solvent mixture. We found that a temperature of 80 °C and a solvent concentration of 90:10 were the best extraction conditions for phenolic compounds, especially pinocembrin and cinnamic acid. The extract showed antioxidant capacity, acid characteristics, low humidity, and the presence of ash, lipids, and soluble solids. The cytotoxicity test with normal kidney cells of Macaca mullata (LLC-MK2) and human lung tumor cells (A549) showed no statistical difference from the negative control. For liver tumor cells (HuH7.5), different concentrations showed cytotoxic/antiproliferative activity. Thus, the data indicate that this product deserves prominence in the search for new applications.

Background: Endodontic treatment aims in the preservation of extremely carious primary teeth. For root canal therapy to be successful, root canals must be properly prepared and effectively irrigated .Therefore, it is necessary to select the proper root canal disinfection method to preserve the primary tooth., Objective: This research was carried out to compare non-thermal pressure plasma (NTPP), diode laser, propolis, and chlorhexidine (CHX) efficacy for disinfection of deciduous anterior root canals contaminated with Enterococcus Faecalis (E. faecalis) after sterilization by gamma radiation., Methods: In this study, forty extracted single-rooted primary anterior teeth were used. All teeth were cleaned, disinfected, and stored till use. Gaining access was provided till reaching the orifices of canals, all pulp tissue debris was removed, and root canals of all teeth were prepared. Standardized 8 mm root length was obtained through crown decronation below the cemento-enamel junction. Samples were sterilized by gamma radiation then the bacterial suspension was inoculated inside root canals. Specimens divided into four main groups; ten samples each group. Group I: Samples irrigated with chlorhexidine. Group II: Samples treated with diode laser. Group III: Samples irrigated with Ethanolic extract of propolis. Group IV: Samples treated with NTPP., Results: A significant difference was found between values measured before and after four irrigation types (p < 0.001) for CHX, Diode Laser, NTPP and (P = 0.035) for Propolis. The highest values of colony reduction measured before and after irrigation were for NTPP (4.06 ± 0.88). Maximum reduction in colony-forming units was recorded in the NTPP group (98.79%), while the lowest reduction in colony-forming units was recorded in Propolis group (81.99%)., Conclusion: All tested methods (CHX, NTPP, Diode laser and Propolis) decreased colony count, with the highest reduction noted in group treated by NTPP and the least reduction noticed in Propolis treated group., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: No humans have participated in this study. The study was approved by (Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, girls’ branch Al-Azhar University (REC-PD-24-03). All the performed methodology was carried out in agreement with the guidelines of the ethical committee of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, girls’ branch Al-Azhar University. Written informed consents were obtained from the accompanying parents at the time of extractions, declaring that these teeth would be used for research purposes instead of being discarded as a waste. Consent for publication: No patients’ data are involved in the study, and consent for publication was not required. Clinical trial registration: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Propolis is a natural resinous substance made by bees through mixing various plant sources. Propolis has been widely recognized as a functional food due to its diverse range of beneficial bioactivities. However, the therapeutic effects of consuming propolis against atopic dermatitis (AD) remain largely unknown. The current study aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of propolis against AD and explore the active compound as well as the direct molecular target. In HaCaT keratinocytes, propolis inhibited TNF-α-induced interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 secretion. It also led to a reduction in chemokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), while restoring the levels of barrier proteins, filaggrin and involucrin. Propolis exhibited similar effects in AD-like human skin, leading to the suppression of AD markers and the restoration of barrier proteins. In DNCB-induced mice, oral administration of propolis attenuated AD symptoms, improved barrier function, and reduced scratching frequency and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In addition, propolis reversed the mRNA levels of AD-related markers in mouse dorsal skin. These effects were attributed to caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), the active compound identified by comparing major components of propolis. Mechanistic studies revealed that CAPE as well as propolis could directly and selectively target MKK4. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that propolis may be used as a functional food agent for the treatment of AD., (© 2024 The Author(s). BioFactors published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.)

Developing an efficient and cost-effective wound-healing substance to treat wounds and regenerate skin is desperately needed in the current world. The present study evaluated in vivo wound healing and in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory activities of propolis mediated silver nanoparticles. Extract of Bee propolis from northeast Punjab, Pakistan, has been prepared via maceration and subjected to chemical identification. The results revealed that it is rich in phenolic contents (88 ± 0.004 mg GAE ml -1 , 34 ± 0.1875 mg QE ml -1 ) hence, employed as a reducer and capping agent to afford silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by green approach. The prepared nanoparticles have been characterized by UV-visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD). The propolis mediated AgNPs possess cubic face center with spherical shape and measured 50-60 nm in size. Moreover, propolis mediated silver nanoparticles have been studied for various biological activities. The results showed excellent antioxidant (0.4696 μg ml -1 ), anti-inflammatory (0.3996 μg ml -1 ) and antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 0.462 μg ml -1 ) and Proteus mirabilis (MIC 0.659 μg ml -1 ) bacterium. An ointment was prepared by mixing AgNPs with polymeric gels for burn wound treatment in rabbits. We found rapid wound healing and higher collagen deposition in AgNPs treated wounds than in control group. Our data suggest that AgNPs from propolis ameliorate excision wounds, and hence, these AgNPs could be potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of burns., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

Diabetes can affect male fertility via oxidative stress and endocrine system disruption. Nanomedicine based on natural products is employed to address diabetes complications. The current study aims to investigate the potential beneficial effect of propolis extract nanoparticles against diabetes-induced testicular damage in male rats. Sixty male rats were randomly allocated to six groups (n = 10). The first group served as a control group. The second and third received propolis extract (Pr) and propolis extract nanoparticles (PrNPs). The fourth group is the diabetic group that received streptozotocin (STZ) (55 mg kg/bwt) single-dose i/p. The fifth and sixth groups are diabetic rats treated with Pr and PrNPs. Both Pr and PrNPs were received at a dose (100 mg/kg bwt) orally. After 60 days, animals were euthanized, then pancreatic and testicular tissues were collected for redox status evaluation, gene expression analysis, and histopathological examination. Also, hormonal analysis (Insulin, total testosterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH) ) along with semen quality evaluation were done. Results showed that the induction of diabetes led to testicular and pancreatic redox status deterioration showing a reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) levels. Also, relative transcript levels of testicular cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1 (CYP11A1), 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD-3β), and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NFE2L2) were significantly down-regulated, While the advanced glycation end-product receptor (AGER) relative gene expression was significantly upregulated. Furthermore, hormonal and semen analysis disturbances were observed. Upon treatment with Pr and PrNPs,  a marked upregulation of testicular gene expression of CYP11A1, HSD-3β, and NFE2L2 as well as a downregulation of AGER, was observed. Hormones and semen analysis were improved. In addition, the testicular and pancreatic redox status was enhanced. Results were confirmed via histopathological investigations. PrNPs outperformed Pr in terms of steroidogenesis pathway improvement, testicular antioxidant defense mechanism augmentation, and prospective antidiabetic activity., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All experimental procedures were performed according to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH), the Animal Research: Reporting of in vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines, and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, following the Animal Use Protocol (Vet CU 25122023856)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Propolis is a natural substance produced by honeybees that has various biological properties including, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Although previous studies have evaluated the antimicrobial effects of propolis in dentistry, its effects on dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) viability, migration, and differentiation are yet not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Chinese propolis on viability/proliferation, migration, differentiation and cytokine expression in DPSCs., Methods: Commercially available DPSCs (Lonza) were treated with aqueous extract of propolis (AEP) or ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP), and viability/proliferation was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays and quantification of nuclear staining. DPSC differentiation into mineralizing cells was evaluated with Alizarin red staining and cell migration was assessed using Boyden Chamber Transwell inserts. Cytokine expression was measured by RT-qPCR. AEP and EEP at 0.03 and 0.1 mg/mL did not affect DPSC viability/proliferation for up to 7-days treatment., Results: Higher doses (0.33-33 mg/mL) induced a dose dependent decrease in DPSC viability/proliferation with a more prominent effect with EEP at 7 days. Neither AEP nor EEP induced DPSC differentiation into mineralizing cells, but both AEP and EEP (0.03-0.1 mg/ml) induced a dose dependent increase in DPSC migration. In addition, EEP prevents the upregulation of IL1b and IL6 but not IL8 and CCL2 in response to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. AEP has less potent anti-inflammatory effects and prevents only IL1b upregulation., Conclusion: This study provides new information about the biologic properties of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of propolis and shows that propolis, at doses that do not affect cell viability, induces DPSC migration and has anti-inflammatory properties. These data highlight the potential use of propolis as an alternative intra-canal medicament for regenerative endodontic procedures., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Park et al.)

The aim of this study is to design a therapeutic enhanced three-dimensional (3D) silk fibroin (SF)-based scaffold containing propolis (Ps)-loaded chitosan (CH) nanocarriers. To this aim, we initially synthesized a hybrid gel-based ink by a synergistic sol-gel and self-assembly approach and then processed the resulting gels by microextrusion-based 3D printing followed by supercritical drying to obtain 3D hybrid aerogel scaffolds. Ps was utilized to enhance the final scaffold's bactericidal efficacy and cell responsiveness. For the synthesis of the scaffold, two Ps loading methods (in preprint and postprinting steps) were investigated in order to optimize the Ps drug quantities in the scaffold and maximize the antibacterial properties of scaffold. In the postprinting Ps loading step, the hybrid silica-oxidized SF (SFO)-CH hydrogel ink was 3D printed into a construct with an interconnected porous structure, and then, Ps was loaded into the printed construct. In the preprint loading method, PS was incorporated into the SF and a hydrolyzed silane solution prior to gelation. The morphological studies demonstrate that the addition of Ps encapsulated CH nanoparticles (NPs) into the hydrogel solution improved the porosity of the developed scaffolds. The rheological analysis of the designed gel ink with and without Ps loading and the release kinetics were studied. The antimicrobial results show that the Ps-loaded scaffolds in the postprinting step exhibited superior antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) strains compared to a preprinted Ps-loaded scaffold. Direct and indirect in vitro cytotoxicity tests also confirmed the designed Ps-loaded scaffold biocompatibility toward a mouse fibroblast (L929) cell line. We demonstrated that the scaffold formulated by propolis-loaded chitosan NPs can enhance the migration and proliferation of L929 fibroblast cells. The obtained results prove the promise of the designed 3D printed silica-SFO-CH-Ps scaffolds as a potent 3D scaffold to mediate tissue regeneration but also as an antibacterial highly porous matrix to support wound healing.

Ethanolic extracts of seasonally collected natural bee products (honey, propolis, royal jelly (RJ), and bee venom (BV)) were tested for their potential as antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi. These extracts exhibited various inhibitory effects on antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, and Haemophilus influenzae) and fungi (Aspergillus brasiliensis and Candida albicans), with the exception of S. pneumonia, which was not inhibited by honey and RJ extracts, and P. aeruginosa, which was not inhibited by RJ extracts. Interestingly, extracts of BV and its major content, melittin (MEL), displayed a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria and fungi. This is the first study to show that propolis extract has bactericidal activity against S. pneumoniae and that BV extract and MEL have antibacterial activity against P. vulgaris, H. influenzae, and H. influenzae type b. Extracts of bee products collected in the spring generally exhibited the most significant antibacterial and antifungal activities. Based on total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), it was found that spring samples of propolis, RJ, and honey, in that order, were the richest. Also, LC-MS-MS analysis of MEL content in BV demonstrated that it was the highest in spring sample. In terms of MIC and MBC values, Gram-positive bacteria were the most susceptible to bee products. First and foremost, the antimicrobial activity of bee products was ranked in descending order based on MIC values: BV, MEL, propolis, RJ, and honey.

Research on the patterns and mechanisms of liver lipid remodeling regulated by propolis is limited. In the present study, the nine-month experimental duration has shed light on the positive influences of propolis on lipid metabolism and thermogenesis capacity in the livers of mice. Eight major compounds in propolis were characterized using UPLC-QTOF-MS technology. Propolis significantly lowered serum triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), but it also led to increased insulin (INS) levels. Lipidomics change trend analysis of 1671 lipid components across 42 categories revealed that the level of glycerophospholipids (GPs) decreased while glycerolipids (GLs) and fatty acids (FAs) increased in the liver. The expression levels of eight key genes involved in the conversion of GP to GL pathways in the liver were enhanced in the propolis group. Molecular docking results elucidated the high binding affinities between the eight components of propolis and eight receptors involved in lipid metabolism, indicating that primary compounds of propolis possess potent capabilities for phospholipid remodeling and lipolysis. These results imply that propolis could facilitate the browning of the liver adipose tissue, promote the conversion of GPs to DGs and FFAs, enhance the consumption of FFAs through thermogenic pathways, and thereby exert lipolytic and hepatoprotective functions.

The conventional one-drug-one-disease theory has lost its sheen in multigenic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Propolis, a honeybee-derived product has ethnopharmacological evidence of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and neuroprotective properties. However, the chemical composition is complex and highly variable geographically. So, to leverage the potential of propolis as an effective treatment modality, it is essential to understand the role of each phytochemical in the AD pathophysiology. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the anti-Alzheimer effect of bioactive in Indian propolis (IP) by combining LC-MS/MS fingerprinting, with network-based analysis and experimental validation. First, phytoconstituents in IP extract were identified using an in-house LC-MS/MS method. The drug likeness and toxicity were assessed, followed by identification of AD targets. The constituent-target-gene network was then constructed along with protein-protein interactions, gene pathway, ontology, and enrichment analysis. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 16 known metabolites with druggable properties except for luteolin-5-methyl ether. The network pharmacology-based analysis revealed that the hit propolis constituents were majorly flavonoids, whereas the main AD-associated targets were MAOB, ESR1, BACE1, AChE, CDK5, GSK3β, and PTGS2. A total of 18 gene pathways were identified to be associated, with the pathways related to AD among the topmost enriched. Molecular docking analysis against top AD targets resulted in suitable binding interactions at the active site of target proteins. Further, the protective role of IP in AD was confirmed with cell-line studies on PC-12, in situ AChE inhibition, and antioxidant assays., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the publication of this article., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has led to the development of eco-friendly and active preservation materials which have slow-release effect of antioxidant/antifungal agents. The propolis microcapsules (PM), utilizing calcium alginate as the wall material, incorporating ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) as the core material, were prepared by ionic gelation method and conducted a investigation of its characteristics After optimization by single factor experiment and theoretical response models, PM which was prepared by dropping 9.3 g L -1 100 mL sodium alginate solution containing 9.8 mL EEP into 0.22 mol L -1 calcium chloride solution showed an encapsulation efficiency of 69.29±1.12 %. Prepared microcapsules were spherical with a dense surface which protected propolis well from the environment, retained a large number of bio-active compounds and improve thermal stability of propolis. Moreover, the microcapsules exhibited good slow-release effect and good inhibitory influence on the development of Alternaria Alternata growth which the colony diameter of the control was 41.38 % higher than the treatment at day six. With 5.0 g PM placed in the small non-woven bag in the application on sweet cherries with non-direct contact method, the decay rate and weight loss of fruits were reduced by 47.5 % and 17.6 %, concurrently the PM also effectively maintain the good appearance, hardness, antioxidant capacity by slowing the reduction in the content of total phenols, flavonoids and enzymatic activities. Therefore, the PM with superior antioxidant and antifungal capacity have the great potential to design as a practical active materials for fruits preservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The ultimate goal of this study was to establish the groundwork for the development of high-mechanical pullulan based films for wound healing applications. For this purpose, pullulan (PUL) was successfully methacrylated with different methacrylic anhydride amounts and used for the fabrication of photocurable wound dressing films (PULMA). The mechanical properties of the films, evaluated by changing the methacrylation degree and polymer concentration for better mechanical performance, indicated the best results in terms of elastic modulus (2.55 ± 0.15 MPa), tensile strength (2.48 ± 0.12 MPa), and elongation at break (848 ± 111 %). Additionally, the incorporation of PRO into wound dressing films has demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and it has also improved the release profile. The obtained films have scavenging properties against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The wound dressing films were not cytotoxic to NIH/3T3 cells, a fibroblast cell line, according to the cytotoxicity assay. The in vitro scratch test showed that PRO incorporated films induced cell migration, suggesting that they have the potential to close wounds and promote healing. According to the image analysis conducted following the in ovo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) test, PRO inclusion boosted different angiogenesis parameters stemming from the films. Clear evidence has been found that PRO loaded into high mechanical performance PUL based films can be suitable for advanced wound dressing applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present work describes the extraction of a polyprenylated benzophenone-rich extract from Brazilian red propolis (ERPB), the development and validation of an RP-HPLC-UV method to characterize it, and its evaluation against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, as well as the normal counterpart MCF-10 A. A mixture of gutifferone E and xanthochymol (1+2), and isolated oblongifolin B (3) were used as chemical standards for ERPB and were also evaluated. The concentrations of 1+2 and 3 corresponded to 16.68 % and 42.25 % of the total content of the extract, respectively, and the validation parameters evaluated were satisfactorily met. The cytotoxic effects of ERPB were assessed, and the obtained IC 50 values were 19.58 μg/mL (MCF-10 A), 11.56 μg/mL (MCF-7), and 5.22 μg/mL (MDA-MB-231). In conclusion, ERPB exhibits promising cytotoxic effects on the tested breast cell lines. However, further investigation to elucidate its potential therapeutic applications and safety profile should be conducted., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Infectious diseases remain as a significant cause of thousands of deaths annually worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity of the crude hydroalcoholic extract and compounds isolated from Brazilian Red Propolis (BRP) against oral pathogens and Toxoplasma gondii, using in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches. Antimicrobial and synergistic activities were determined using the broth dilution method and the checkerboard assay, respectively. Antibiofilm activity was evaluated by staining with 2 % crystal violet and counting microorganisms. In vivo infection was carried out in Caenorhabditis elegans AU37 larvae and in silico analysis was performed using molecular docking simulations. The effect on growth modulation of T. gondii was evaluated through a β-galactosidase colorimetric assay. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values ranged from 3.12 to 400 µg/mL. Biofilm Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICB 50 ) values ranged from 6.25 to 375 µg/mL, with a significant reduction in the number of viable cells. Furthermore, Guttiferone E and the crude extract reduced cell aggregation and caused damage to the biofilm cell wall. The highest concentrations of the crude extract and Guttiferone E increased the survival and reduced the risk of death of infected and treated larvae. Guttiferone E and Oblongifolin B inhibited the intracellular proliferation of T. gondii and demonstrated several targets of action against bacteria and T. gondii through in silico analysis. These data demonstrate that BRP has antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity against pathogens of clinical relevance, and can be used in the future as phytomedicines., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We have nothing to declare, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Propolis, a natural resinous substance collected by bees, is known for its potent antioxidant properties. This study investigates the antioxidant activities and total phenolic contents of propolis samples from 16 provinces of Türkiye and their effects on the oxidative stability of sunflower oil. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition was in the range of 28.1%-92.5% in thirteen propolis samples, whereas this rate was 24.5% in butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Although 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzotiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) value was 224 µmol trolox/g in BHT, this value was in the range of 262-1370 µmol trolox/g in propolis samples, except for one. Propolis methanol extracts 13 applied to sunflower oil at a concentration of 1000 ppm were more efficient than BHT added at 200 ppm for inhibiting the production of peroxide value (PV). Similarly, most propolis extracts (1000 ppm) demonstrated antioxidant activity against the production of p-anisidine (p-AV) in sunflower oil under accelerated oxidation conditions. It was determined that Turkish propolis had strong antioxidant properties and delayed oxidation and may be utilized commercially in the food sector to delay the oxidation of fats and oils., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Food Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Institute of Food Technologists.)

Propolis is a natural product widely used in folk medicine. Among its various applications, its antiparasitic properties stand out. Due to its great biodiversity, Brazil is a major producer of several types of propolis. This study proposes to evaluate the leishmanicidal properties of the hydroalcoholic extract of propolis collected in the southern region of Brazil (Brown propolis - HEBP) and its main isolated compounds: abietic acid (1), 13-epi-cupressic acid (2), 13-epi-torulosol (3), dehydroabietic acid (4), cis -communic acid (5) and ent -agatic acid (6). In general, the diterpenes did not show activity against the promastigotes of Leishmania ( Leishmania ) amazonensis at the evaluated concentrations. However, the HEBP was very active with an inhibition concentration of 50% at 8.32 µg/mL. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) assays showed morphological and structural alterations in promastigote forms of L . ( L. ) amazonensis when incubated with HEBP.

Skin injuries resulting from physical trauma pose significant health risks, necessitating advanced wound care solutions. This investigation introduces an innovative bilayer wound dressing composed of 3D-printed propolis-coated polycaprolactone (PCL/PP) and an electrospun composite of polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, polycaprolactone, and diltiazem (PVA/CTS/PCL/DTZ). SEM analysis revealed a bilayer structure with 89.23 ± 51.47 % porosity and uniformly distributed nanofibers. The scaffold tensile strength, with pore sizes of 100, 300, and 500 μm, was comparable to native skin. However, smaller pore sizes reduced water vapor transmission from 4211.59 ± 168.53 to 2358.49 ± 203.63 g/m 2 . The incorporation of DTZ lowered the contact angle to 35.23 ± 3.65°, while the addition of PCL reduced the degradation rate and modulated the release of DTZ by approximately 50 %. Moreover, lower pH increased the degradation rate and decreased swelling. The inclusion of propolis enhanced antibacterial activity, and 10 % DTZ promoted the viability, proliferation, and migration of fibroblasts and adipose-derived stem cells. However, increasing DTZ concentration to 12 % reduced cell viability. In vivo tests on rats demonstrated effective wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties of the bilayer samples. Regarding the aforementioned results, the PCL/PP-PVA/CTS/PCL/DTZ (10 % w/w) bilayer wound dressing is a promising candidate for wound healing applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Brazilian propolis produced by honeybees have been widely studied, but few data exist regarding the safety and pharmacological potential of this natural product. The aim of the present study was to examine the toxicity, genotoxicity, and chemoprevention effects attributed to exposure to the brown propolis hydroalcoholic extract (BPHE) of Araucaria sp . Acute oral toxicity test was conducted using Wistar Hannover rats, demonstrating that the highest dose tested (2,000 mg/kg b.w.) produced no apparent adverse effects or lethality. The micronucleus (MN) genotoxicity test was conducted using peripheral blood from Swiss mice, which also noted that BPHE did not induce significant chromosomal damage. It is of interest that BPHE at a dose of 12 mg/kg b.w. exhibited antigenotoxic effects against the doxorubicin (DXR)-induced damage. However, BPHE did not influence the depletion of reduced glutathione induced by DXR in mice. It is noteworthy that BPHE exerted chemopreventive effects at doses 6, 12, and 24 mg/kg b.w. The determination of this effect of BPHE on colon carcinogenesis was examined using aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as evidenced by histological analysis. The colons of animals treated with BPHE (12 mg/kg b.w.) exhibited a significant reduction in staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein following 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-and BPHE combined treatments. Hence, it is conceivable that the anti-inflammatory activity of the chemical constituents of BPHE are involved in its chemopreventive action against colon carcinogenesis as evidenced from ACF assay. Therefore, BHPE was found to be a safe product, without any apparent significant acute adverse risk. Further, the extract exhibited antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic activities which may be considered for beneficial uses in colon carcinogenesis.

Background: A skin injury could cause serious damage, as it is the outermost layer. Treatment can heal superficial injuries perfectly, but deep wounds can barely heal it. A wound not treated correctly can lead to severe health problems and even death., Aim: This study aims to investigate the role of collagen-propolis-eucalyptus hydrogel in wound healing in rats., Methods and Materials: Collagen solution was prepared, and then the extract of propolis and eucalyptus was prepared. Four groups (collagen-propolis-eucalyptus, collagen-eucalyptus, collagen-propolis hydrogels and control groups) were prepared, and their biocompatibility was evaluated by the MTT test assay; Then the anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was evaluated. The animal test was investigated during 7, 14 and 21 days by histopathology., Results: The MTT test did not show significant cell cytotoxicity, and the percentage of cell survival was more than 90% for 24, 48 and 72 h. The effect of the anti-bacterial hydrogel collagen-propolis-eucalyptus group compared to the collagen-eucalyptus and collagen-propolis groups was much higher. The percentage of wound contraction was recorded in the collagen-propolis-eucalyptus group and it increased in all the groups over time. The results showed that the percentage of wound contraction and repair was significant in the macroscopic and microscopic evaluations., Conclusion: The results showed the effectiveness of natural hydrogel in increasing the healing process of the wound, and it is possible to use this hydrogel natural collagen-eucalyptus-propolis as a suitable option because of its accessibility and low cost., (© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Brazilian Red Propolis (BRP) is a natural product known for its rich chemical composition and therapeutic potential. This study investigates the phytochemical profile and evaluates the cytotoxic, antiplasmodial, and antimicrobial properties of red propolis extract and its isolated compounds vestitol (1), neovestitol (2), medicarpin (3), 7-O-methylvestitol (4), and oblongifolin B (5). The extract showed selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines (IC 50 : 16-39 μg/mL). Compound 3 exhibited a promising cytotoxicity against SK-OV-3 with and IC 50 of 6.65 μM. BRP had moderate antimicrobial effects; however, 3 was effective against Cryptococcus neoformans (IC 50 : 19.29 μM), while 5 was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IC 50 : 15.77 μM). BRP exhibited antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains D6 and W2 (IC 50 : 13.8 μg/mL and 5.7 μg/mL); also, 4 and 5 had IC 50 concentrations ranging from: 2.99-6.96 μM). Molecular docking for P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH), suggest that compound 4 has significant interactions with critical residues in the PfLDH active site, such as TYR85, THR97, and ASP53, and falls within optimal ranges for oral bioavailability. These findings highlight the significant bioactive potential of BRP and its compounds, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents in vitro and in-silico. Further studies are recommended to explore their mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors reported no potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

New Zealand's unique indigenous flora has evolved due to its geographical isolation in the Southern Hemisphere. In the 250 years, since European colonisation commenced, much indigenous flora has been replaced by plants largely of Northern Hemisphere origin including poplar species and pine. There are however still a few large areas of principally native flora. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) was introduced to New Zealand in 1839, so has no evolutionary link to the New Zealand indigenous flora. New Zealand propolis from areas in which honeybees have access to poplar and other Northern Hemisphere species is similar in chemical profile to Northern Hemisphere propolis. However, when honeybees were placed in an extensive area of native flora, Te Urewera in the North Island,the chemical profile of propolis produced was vastly different. This "endemic" propolis was characterised by the presence of diterpenoids in contrast to the flavonoids found in poplar-type propolis. These diterpenoids, isocupressic acid, acetyl isocupressic acid, manool, torulosal, communic acid and ferruginol, were characterised by GC-MS and by NMR spectroscopy of the isolated compounds. The "endemic" propolis has commonality with propolis of the Mediterranean-type as well as some Brazilian propolis. Investigation of the bioactivity of a sample of the "endemic" propolis revealed good antioxidant behaviour with a TEAC of 1481 mg trolox g -1 , dose-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, inhibition of superoxide production with an IC 50 of 262 μg mL -1 and inhibition of methicillin resistant and methicillin sensitive S. aureus. Much of this bioactivity can be attributed to the presence of the diterpenoids., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: S TTR McNeil reports financial support was provided by Callaghan Innovation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study assessed the effectiveness of the local use of green propolis-loaded lipid nanoparticles (GPlnp) as an adjuvant therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP) to manage experimental periodontitis (EP) in ovariectomized rats treated with zoledronate. Ten weeks before the experiment, 48 female rats were ovariectomized. On day 0, a ligature was installed in the lower first molar to induce EP. From day 0 to day 42, half of the rats were treated with vehicle (VEH), while the other half were treated with 100μg/Kg of zoledronate (ZOL). On day 14, the rats were allocated into the following groups: VEH-NLT, VEH-SRP, VEH-SRP-GPlnp, ZOL-NLT, ZOL-SRP, and ZOL-SRP-GPlnp. VEH-NLT and ZOL-NLT received no local treatment. VEH-SRP and ZOL-SRP received SRP and irrigation with physiological saline solution. VEH-SRP-GPlnp and ZOL-SRP-GPlnp received SRP and irrigation with GPlnp. A single SRP session was carried out, and four irrigation sessions were conducted (on days 14, 16, 18, and 20). On day 42, all animals were euthanized. The hemimandibles were processed for histological, histometric (percentage of total bone tissue (PTBT) and non-vital bone tissue (PNVBT)) and immunohistochemical (TNFα, IL-1β, and TRAP) analysis. VEH-SRP-GPlnp showed better tissue repair, higher PTBT, and lower immunolabeling for TNFα and IL-1β compared to the groups treated with VEH. ZOL-SRP-GPlnp showed a favorable tissue repair, with lower PNVBT, less local inflammation, and lower immunolabeling for TNFα and IL-1β compared to the groups treated with ZOL. Irrigation with GPlnp proved to be effective as an adjuvant therapy to SRP in treating EP in ovariectomized rats treated with zoledronate.

Recently, the growth in the consumption of functional foods with potential nutritional and health benefits revealed rapid progress in phytochemical analysis to assure quality and profile the chemical composition. Bee propolis, a gummy exudate produced in beehives after harvesting from different plant species and showed to contain bioactive secondary metabolites with biological importance. The main goal of the current study is to profile the chemical composition of red propolis samples from the Brazilian stingless bee Tetragonula biroi for the first time using HPLC-UV-ELSD and NMR analysis for assignment of the abundant metabolites' classes as well as extraction and isolation of the major compounds. Column chromatography and size exclusion chromatography were applied for the purification of the major compounds in red Brazilian propolis. Further, testing the antitrypanosomal and cytotoxic activities against Trypanosoma brucei and human leukemia cell lines (U937) was performed. A total of 29 secondary metabolites were identified as two anthocyanins, 6 flavonoids, 8 isoflavonoids, 10 phenolics, two phenolic acids, and one triterpenoid. Two phenolic compounds were purified and identified using 1D and 2D NMR analysis along with MS analysis as liquiritigenin and calycosin. Red Brazilian propolis FB-3 fraction showed the highest inhibitory activity against T. brucei at 1.6 μg/ml, compared to 12.4 μg/ml of the crude extract. The isolated compounds showed moderate activity with an MIC of 8.5 μg/ml for liquiritigenin and 8.7 μg/ml for calycosin. Moreover, FB-3 fraction and calycosin were showed the potent cytotoxic effect with IC50 = 45.1 and 35.8μg/ml, respectively compared to IC50 = 29.5 μg/ml of the standard diminazen. Hence, red Brazilian propolis is rich source of polyphenols with myriad biological importance. Propolis fractions and purified compounds showed moderate antiprotozoal activity and potent cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cell lines., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Alanazi, Alenzi. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

This study aims to determine whether Turkish propolis applied to C6 glioma cells has an anti-glioma effect. To investigate this, C6 glioma cells were treated with propolis extract concentrations of 100, 250 and 500 µg/ml. COX-2 and NF-κB mRNA expressions in the cells were detected by using qPCR. The levels of TNFα, MMP-2, -9 and JNK/SAPK in the cells were analyzed by using ELISA. The changes in redox status biomarkers as oxidant and antioxidant status and cell injury biomarkers were detected by using colorimetric methods or ELISA. COX-2 and NF-κB mRNA expression levels were decreased in glioma cells treated with propolis extract at concentrations of 100, 250 and 500 µg/ml as compared to control cells. MMP-2 and -9 levels were unchanged, while TNFα levels decreased in C6 glioma cells treated with propolis extract at concentrations of 100, 250, 500 µg/ml compared to control cells. While the levels of dityrosine, kynurenine, AOPP, advanced glycation end products and lipid hydroperoxides were significantly decreased in C6 glioma cells treated with 100µg/ml propolis compared to control cells, it increased significantly in cells treated with propolis extract at 500µg/ml concentration. These findings suggest that Turkish propolis may exert anti-glioma effects on C6 glioma cells by dose-dependently regulating COX-2 and NF-κB mRNA expressions and promoting oxidative stress-induced cell damage and death.

Propolis is a natural immunomodulator with anticancer activity. This study investigated the immunomodulatory mechanism and anti-tumor activity of supercritical CO 2 extracts of propolis (SEP) in tumor-bearing immunosuppression mice. We used cyclophosphamide (CTX) to construct the immunosuppressive mice model and then inoculated them with CT26 cells to build the CT26 tumor-bearing immunosuppression mice model. Upon treatment with SEP, tumor proliferation in mice was markedly suppressed, with tumor volumes decreasing from 1881.43 mm 3 to 1049.95 mm 3 and weights reducing from 2.07 g to 1.13 g. Concurrently, the immune system recovered well, and the spleen and thymus indexes increased significantly. The total T lymphocyte (CD3 + T cell) contents in the spleen and blood recovered from 11.88 % to 21.19 % and 15.32 % to 22.19 %, respectively. In addition, the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio has returned to a healthy level, 3.12 in the spleen and 5.42 in the blood. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were increased by 2.17, 2.76, and 7.15 times in the spleen, 2.76, 1.92, and 3.02 times in the serum. Moreover, the western blot results showed that SEP treatment increased the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p65. These results indicated that SEP activated the immune activity of RAW 264.7 macrophages through the TLR4-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway to exert immunomodulatory function and inhibit tumor proliferation. This study facilitated the further application of SEP as a potential immunomodulatory and anti-tumor functional food., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The application of novel insect proteins as future food resources in the food field has attracted more and more attention. In this study, a biodegradable antibacterial food packaging material with beneficial mechanical properties was developed using Tenebrio molitor larvae protein (TMP), chitosan (CS) and propolis ethanol extract (PEE) as raw materials. PEE was uniformly dispersed in the film matrix and the composite films showed excellent homogeneity and compatibility. There are strong intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions between CS, TMP, and PEE in the films, which exhibit the structure characteristics of amorphous materials. Compared with CS/TMP film, the addition of 3 % PEE significantly enhanced the elongation at break (34.23 %), water vapor barrier property (22.94 %), thermal stability (45.84 %), surface hydrophobicity (20.25 %), and biodegradability of the composite film. The composite film has strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which were enhanced with the increase of PEE content. These biodegradable films offer an eco-friendly end-of-life option when buried in soil. Composite films can effectively delay the spoilage of strawberries and extend the shelf life of strawberries. Biodegradable active packaging film developed with insect protein and chitosan can be used as a substitute for petroleum-based packaging materials, and has broad application prospects in the field of fruits preservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluated conventional and alternative irrigation solutions combined with ultrasonic irrigant activation (UIA) against Fusobacterium nucleatum ( F. nucleatum ) and its endotoxin (LPS) in main root canal and dentinal tubules, using a new intratubular infection model. Seventy dentin cylinders were infected with F. nucleatum for seven days under anaerobic conditions and treated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), limewater + 2.5% NaOCl, and 10% ethanolic propolis extract (EEP), administered by syringe irrigation (SI) or UIA. Microbiological samples were collected before and after irrigation to determine CFU ml -1 and LPS levels. Confocal microscopy assessed bacterial membrane damage with Live/Dead staining. Irrigation solutions effectively reduced CFU ml -1 . UIA caused greater damage to the bacterial membranes and reduced LPS levels. The ultrasonic activation of 10% EEP and limewater + 2.5% NaOCl were comparable to 2.5% NaOCl ( p  > 0.05). UIA improved the effectiveness of solutions, suggesting potential for alternative substances. Randomized clinical trials using these protocols are recommended.

Background/aim: Natural compounds such as propolis have gained wide popularity in the last decades. While its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties are well known, the anticancer properties of propolis are just beginning to be appreciated. Herein, we comparatively investigate the cytotoxic and radiosensitizing potential of four different ethanolic propolis extracts originating from three different countries (Germany, Ireland, South Africa) in human lung cancer cell models., Materials and Methods: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was applied to characterize the four different propolis extracts. Cytotoxicity and radiation survival were determined by 3D matrix-based clonogenic assays and autophagy was examined by western blotting., Results: We found cytotoxicity in a propolis type-, time- and cell model- dependent manner. In the four ethanolic propolis extracts, Coumaric acid, Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, Pinocembrin and Chrysin presented the major compounds identified. Examining the induction of autophagy using the marker LC3B and autophagy inhibition with chloroquine suggested autophagy to be part of the survival mechanisms upon propolis treatment in a cell model-dependent manner. Combining propolis with X-ray irradiation showed the radiosensitizing potential of propolis in human lung cancer cell models, which clearly presented in a manner dependent on the incubation time of propolis and the cell model treated., Conclusion: Propolis treatment showed cytotoxic and radiosensitizing effects of propolis on human lung cancer cells. Since these effects differ greatly between the four propolis extracts studied and originating from different regions, further studies are urgently needed to differentiate propolis species and their anticancer properties in more detail., (Copyright © 2024 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Conventional cancer treatments include surgical resection, chemotherapy, hyperthermia, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and locally targeted therapies such as radiation therapy. Standard cancer therapies often require the use of multiple agents, which can activate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in tumor cells, leading to reduced cell death and increased drug resistance. Moreover, the use of multiple agents also contributes to added toxicity, resulting in poor treatment outcomes. Cancer cells gradually develop resistance to almost all chemotherapeutics through various mechanisms, such as drug efflux, alterations in drug metabolism and transport, changes in signal transduction pathways, enhanced DNA repair capacity, evasion of apoptosis, increased mutations, reactivation of drug targets, interaction with the cancer microenvironment, cancer cell-stroma interactions, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-mediated chemoresistance, epigenetic modifications, metabolic alterations, and the effect of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Developing new strategies to improve chemotherapy sensitivity while minimizing side effects is essential for achieving better therapeutic outcomes and enhancing patients' quality of life. One promising approach involves combining conventional cancer treatments with propolis and its flavonoids. These natural compounds may enhance tumor response to treatment while reducing toxicity. Propolis and its components can sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents, likely by inhibiting NF-κB activation, reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs; an M2-like phenotype), and thereby reducing the release of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, cytokines, chemokines, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). By reducing TAMs, propolis and its components may also overcome EMT-mediated chemoresistance, disrupt the crosstalk between macrophages and CSCs, inhibit the maintenance of stemness, and reverse acquired immunosuppression, thus promoting an antitumor response mediated by cytotoxic T-cells. This review highlights the potential of flavonoids to modulate the responsiveness of cancer to conventional treatment modalities. The evidence suggests that novel therapeutic strategies incorporating flavonoids could be developed to improve treatment outcomes. The positive effects of combining propolis with chemotherapeutics include reduced cytotoxicity to peripheral blood leukocytes, liver, and kidney cells. Therefore, polyphenolic/flavonoid components may hold potential for use in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in the clinical treatment of various types of cancers.

There is agreement that every colloidal structure produces its own set of unique characteristics, properties, and applications. A colloidal phenomenon of latex-bridged water in a dimethyl carbonate (DMC) Pickering emulsion stabilized by R202 hydrophobic silica was investigated for its ability to act as a superhydrophobic coating (SHC) for cellulose substrates. First, various emulsion compositions were screened for their stability and droplet size. The final composition was then cross-examined by cryogenic scanning electron microscopy and optical and fluorescent microscopy to verify the colloidal structure. The drying pattern of the coating was investigated by using labeled samples under a fluorescent microscope and by scanning electron microscopy on a paper substrate. After the final ∼3 μm of dry coating was applied, it exhibited superhydrophobicity (advancing contact angle = 155°) and full functionality after 5 min at room temperature (RT). Coated samples maintained superhydrophobicity after 20 abrasion cycles and mechanical integrity after 50 s of water immersion. The SHC-coated paper demonstrated compatibility with a standard laser printer, and the coated paper demonstrated superhydrophobicity after printing. Finally, a propolis/DMC extract was produced and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and infused into the SHC (PSHC). The newly formed PSHC demonstrated its ability to act effectively against E. coli biofilm and S. aureus planktonic cells and reduce their viability by over 90% and 99.99%, respectively.

Propolis, such as is used as bio-cosmetics and in functional materials, is increasing because of its antioxidant medicinal benefits. However, its pharmacological and chemical composition is highly variable, relative to its geography and botanical origins. Comparative studies on three propolis samples collected from different regions in Korea have been essential for linking its provenance, chemical composition, and biological activity, thereby ensuring the efficient utilization of its beneficial properties. Here, we report the chemical composition and biological activities such as the antioxidant, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanolic extract of Korean propolis collected from two regions. We compared the chemical constituents of three 70% ethanol-extracted (EE) samples, including the Andong, Gongju field (GF), and Gongju mountain (GM)-sourced propolis using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major and common components of these EE Korean propolis were flavonoids such as pinocembrin (12.0-17.7%), chrysin (5.2-6.8%), and apigenin (5.30-5.84%). The antioxidant property using a 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay of EEP showed substantial differences among samples with the highest from Andong. The sample 10% GM levigated in simple ointment was found to be the most active in wound healing activity based on the excision, incision, and dead space wound models. The potential of propolis for wound healing is mainly due to its evidenced properties, such as its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and angiogenesis promoter effects, which need further study. The anti-inflammatory activity and NO production inhibitory effect were highest in GM samples. However, GM and GF samples demonstrated similar inhibitory effects on the expression of inflammatory mediators such as iNOS, IL-1β, and IL-6. The presence of a higher concentration of flavonoids in Korean EE propolis might be responsible for their promising wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

Propolis is a sticky substance produced by honeybees ( Apis mellifera ) through the collection of plant resins, which they mix with secretions from their palate and wax glands. Propolis can inhibit tumor invasion and metastasis, thereby reducing the proliferation of tumor cells and inducing cell apoptosis. Previous research has shown that propolis has an inhibitory effect on skin squamous cell carcinoma A431 cells. Nevertheless, its inhibitory mechanism is unclear because of many significantly different Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways between the ethanol extract of the propolis (EEP) group and the control group of cells. In this study, the main components of EEP and the antitumor mechanism at an IC 50 of 29.04 μg/mL EEP were determined via untargeted metabolomics determined using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‒MS/MS), respectively. The results revealed 43 polyphenolic components in the EEP and 1052 metabolites, with 160 significantly upregulated and 143 significantly downregulated metabolites between cells treated with EEP and solvent. The KEGG enrichment results revealed that EEP significantly inhibited A431 cell proliferation via the steroid hormone biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism pathways. These findings may provide valuable insights for the development of targeted therapies for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Buffalo meat is naturally perishable, making it susceptible to spoilage due to its high moisture content and vulnerability to microbial contamination. Edible coatings have attracted attention as a packaging method that can prolong the shelf life of meat. The study aimed to examine the impact of a combination of Lepidium sativum mucilage (LS) coating and propolis extract (PE) on prolonging the shelf life of buffalo meat. The chemical characteristics (chemical compounds, total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity) and antimicrobial activity of the PE (disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration) were investigated. The effect of the PE on the cell wall of pathogenic bacteria was examined using a scanning electron microscope. Biological properties of LS (TPC, TFC, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effect (pour plate method)) was investigated. Different concentrations of PE (0, 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5%) were added to the coating mixture containing LS, and their effects on extending the shelf life of buffalo meat samples stored at 4°C for 9 days were assessed. The PE included gallic acid, benzoic acid, syringic acid, 4-3 dimethoxy cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, myricetin, caffeic acid, luteolin, chlorogenic acid, and apigenin. The PE was determined to have a TPC of 36.67 ± 0.57 mg GAE/g and a TFC of 48.02 ± 0.65 mg QE/g. The extract's radical scavenging activity ranged from 0 to 76.22% for DPPH radicals and from 0 to 50.31% for ABTS radicals. The viability of C115 HeLa cell was observed to be 94.14 μg/mL. The PE and LS, exhibited strong antimicrobial properties against pathogenic bacteria. The LS was determined to have a TPC of 15.23 ± 0.43 mg GAE/g and a TFC of 11.51± 0.61 mg QE/g. The LS was determined to have a DPPH of 429.65 ± 1.28 μg/mL and a ABTS of 403.59 ± 1.46 μg/mL. The microbiological analysis revealed that the LS+2.5%PE treatment was the most effective in inhibiting the growth of total viable count (6.23 vs. 8.00 log CFU/g), psychrotrophic bacteria count (3.71 vs. 4.73 log CFU/g), coliforms count (2.78 vs. 3.70 log CFU/g), and fungi count (2.39 vs. 3.93 log CFU/g) compared to the control sample. The addition of PE to the edible coating also demonstrated a concentration-dependent effect on preserving the moisture, pH, color, and hardness of the buffalo meat. Sensory evaluation results suggested that incorporating PE into the edible coating extended the shelf life of buffalo meat by three days. In the second stage of this paper, this investigation employed two distinct forecasting methodologies: the Radial Basis Function (RBF) and the Support Vector Machine (SVM), to predict a range of quality indicators for coated meat products. Upon comparison, the RBF model exhibited a higher level of accuracy, showcasing its exceptional capacity to closely match the experimental outcomes. Therefore, this type of food coating, renowned for its strong antimicrobial properties, has the potential to effectively package and preserve perishable and delicate food items, such as meat., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Majdi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Wound healing is a complex and coordinated process involving interactions between cells and various messenger systems. This study conducted in vivo tests to determine the healing effect of propolis (PR)-based cream derived from the Amazon stingless bee, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, reared in açaí ( Euterpe oleracea ) monoculture, on induced wounds in rats. Data were obtained by monitoring injuries on 14 Wistar rats, divided into three groups (G1, G2 and G3), each receiving specific treatments: propolis-based cream (PR), collagenase (PC) and neutral cream (NC). Over the seven days of treatment, the lesions were measured using photographic records and ImageJ software to evaluate the healing effectiveness of the test cream. ImageJ software version 1.53g was used to compare the wound diameters for each treatment. After seven days, histopathological analyses of the induced lesions were performed. It was observed that collagenase (PC) and the test cream (PR) did not differ significantly in terms of wound diameter reduction. However, the propolis-based cream directly influenced the lesion maturation process and exhibited a milder inflammatory response compared to the positive control (PC). This effect is possibly associated with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds identified by GC/MS analysis in the propolis. Notably, this is the first report describing propolis of Scaptotrigona aff. postica obtained from açaí monocultures with strong healing potential, highlighting the identification of a high concentration of phenolic compounds that aid directly in wound repair.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Araucaria sp. brown propolis (ABP) against trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats., Methods: Animals received vehicle (1% DMSO, 1 ml/kg) or hydroalcoholic extract of ABP (hydroalcoholic extract of Araucaria sp. brown propolis (HEABP), 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) orally, or dexamethasone (25 mg/kg, s.c.) for 5 days. On day 4, the animals received intracolonic TNBS (150 mg/kg), on day 6 they were euthanized. The weight of the animals, the macroscopic and microscopic colonic damage, reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured in colon homogenate. The action of HEABP and two isolated compounds in neutrophil migration was recorded., Key Findings: HEABP (100 and 300 mg/kg), but not dexamethasone, decreased colonic lesion, and increased colonic mucin staining. In parallel, HEABP decreased MDA and restored GSH levels and the activity of SOD, CAT, and GST in the colon. A dose-dependent inhibition of MPO activity was observed (LogIC50 = 1.9). Moreover, HEBPA and the junicedric and abietic acids inhibited the neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro and HEBPA reduced neutrophil migration in vivo., Conclusion: HEABP may be promising in the therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases, reducing oxidative and inflammatory damage, especially mediated by neutrophils., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objectives: To investigate the effects of increasing propolis doses on salivary glands exposed to radiotherapy (RT)., Methods: Thirty-seven rats were divided into 4 groups: The control group (G0, n: 7), G1 group (n: 10), G2 group (n: 10), and G3 group (n: 10). The rats in the G1 group received 15 Gray (Gy) RT only to the head and neck area. The rats in the G2 and G3 groups received 15 Gy RT for the head and neck area along with 100 mg/kg/ml and 200 mg/kg/ml of propolis. The parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands of rats were immunohistochemically stained with aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) and aquaporin-5 (AQP-5). They were also evaluated for malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPO), total antioxidant (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS)., Results: AQP-1 and AQP-5 values were highest in G0 group followed by G3, G2, and G1 groups in decreasing order. The MDA and TOS values were highest in G1 group, which was followed by G2, G3, and G0 groups. The highest GPO, SOD, and TAS values were observed in G0 group followed by G3, G2, and G1 groups in decreasing order., Conclusion: It was found that propolis increased antioxidant products and decreased oxidative products in the salivary glands receiving RT in parallel with the dose increase. Similarly, in the groups receiving propolis, an increase in the immune expression of aquaporin molecules was detected in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these data, it could be stated that propolis has a healing effect on the salivary glands exposed to RT., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Background: The increasing quest for effective and safe antiaging skincare solutions has led to a surge in the exploration of natural compounds such as phenolic acids. Despite the proven efficacy of traditional antiaging ingredients like retinol, their associated side effects have necessitated the search for alternatives., Aims: This study aimed to assess the anti-wrinkle efficacy of a standardized phenolic acids polymer extract (PAPE) from propolis, employing both in vitro and clinical methodologies to explore its suitability as a novel antiaging skincare ingredient for sensitive and nonsensitive skin types., Patients/methods: The study comprised of evaluating PAPE effects on key skin health biomarkers in dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial involving female participants aged 30-70 years assessed the wrinkle-reducing effectiveness of face creams formulated with two concentrations of PAPE (1.5% and 3%) over a 28-day period., Results: In vitro studies indicated that PAPE could modulate inflammation and tissue remodeling biomarkers. The clinical trial demonstrated that applying PAPE-enriched cream resulted in significant wrinkle reduction, with 25% and 34% improvements for the 1.5% and 3% PAPE formulations, respectively. Subjective feedback from participants further validated the antiaging efficacy and overall satisfaction with the product., Conclusion: Incorporating PAPE offers a compelling antiaging solution, significantly reducing wrinkle depth with a favorable safety profile. The study substantiates PAPE's potential as an effective and safe alternative to conventional antiaging ingredients, aligning with the cosmetic industry's shift toward natural, evidence-based formulations., (© 2024 Apiotix Technologies. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

A novel gingival retraction cord named P/TA@CSy was prepared using chitosan yarns (CSy) loaded with tranexamic acid (TA) and Propolis (P). P/TA@CSy has good toughness with a breaking strength of 41.3 Pa, benefiting from the twisting structure and Propolis coating. A short coagulation time of 456 s was achieved for P/TA@CSy because of the potent blood absorption ability from the effective attachment of tranexamic acid. Moreover, excellent antibacterial ability was obtained with the antibacterial rates against E. coli of 94.73 %, S. aureus of 99.99 % and S. mutans of 99.99 %, contributing to Propolis's antibacterial ability. In addition, suppression of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) was found, which could prevent wound infection. P/TA@CSy displayed excellent cytocompatibility with the cell activity of 100 % after 24 h. Therefore, P/TA@CSy could rapidly respond to gingival hemostasis and infection prevention, showing excellent potential in dental treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study sought to determine effects of Thai propolis extract mixed in mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and its activity in inflamed human dental pulp cells (HDPCs)., Materials and Methods: Interleukin-1β-primed HDPCs were treated with either the eluate of MTA mixed with distilled water, of MTA mixed with 0.75 mg/ml of the propolis extract, or of Dycal®, 0.75 mg/ml of the propolis extract, or 0.2% (v/v) of chlorhexidine for 24 or 72 h. The viability of HDPCs was determined by the PrestoBlue® cytotoxic assay. HDPCs' lysates were analyzed for MMP-2 mRNA expression by RT-qPCR, while their supernatants were measured for MMP-2 activity by gelatin zymography., Results: At 24 and 72 h, a non-toxic dose of the propolis extract at 0.75 mg/ml by itself or mixed in MTA tended to reduce MMP-2 expression upregulated by MTA, while it further decreased the MMP-2 activity as compared to that of MTA mixed with distilled water. The MMP-2 activity of interleukin-1β-primed HDPCs treated with the eluate of the propolis extract mixed in MTA was significantly lower than that of interleukin-1β-primed HDPCs at 24 h (p=0.012). As a control, treatment with chlorhexidine significantly inhibited MMP-2 expression induced by MTA and MMP-2 activity enhanced by interleukin-1β (p<0.05). Treatment with Dycal® caused a significant increase in HDPC's death, resulting in a significant decrease in MMP-2 expression and activity (p<0.05)., Conclusions: MTA mixed with Thai propolis extract can reduce MMP-2 mRNA expression and activity when compared to MTA mixed with distilled water in inflamed HDPCs.

Stresses caused by ionizing radiation can also damage tissues and organs through the circulatory system. In this study, we aimed to determine the radioprotective effect of propolis, a natural and powerful antioxidant product, against oxidative liver damage caused by cranial irradiation. Thirty-two male albino Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four groups, were designed as sham group, irradiation (IR) group, propolis plus IR, control group of propolis. Biochemical parameters were measured in liver tissue of rats. While Total enzymatic superoxide scavenging activity (TSSA) and non-enzymatic superoxide scavenging activity (NSSA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities of all groups were statistically significantly higher than rats receiving only-irradiation, Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in the IR group was significantly lower than in the sham control group and IR + propolis group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the IR group was found to be significantly higher than both the sham control group and the propolis control group, but lower than the IR + propolis group. Malondialdehyde level and xanthine oxidase activity were higher in the IR group than in the other groups. Compared to the sham control group, in the group treated with propolis, a significant elevation in antioxidant parameters, specifically TSSA, NSSA, SOD, and GST activities, was noted, with corresponding increases of 32.3%, 23.2%, 47.6%, and 22.6%, respectively. Our findings show that propolis can be a radioprotective agent against ionized radiation damage by increasing antioxidant activity and reducing oxidant stress in liver tissue., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis (EEP) administration on immune parameters, faecal consistency scores, growth performance, and feed efficiency of Holstein Friesian calves. A total of 24 calves were divided into two different groups, control (n = 12) and EEP (n = 12). Both groups consisted of 6 male and 6 female calves. The calves were fed milk amounting to 10% of their birth weight each day until they reached 60 days of age. Additionally, they were given starter feed and dry hay once a day. Calves assigned to the EEP group received 4 ml of EEP daily. Use of EEP increased (P < 0.05) the serum IgG and IgM levels at 2 months of age compared to the control group. EEP also showed efficacy (P < 0.01) in reducing faecal consistency in calves throughout the study. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NF-κB expression in calves treated with EEP were lower (P < 0.05) throughout the EEP application period. On the other hand, IGF-1 mRNA transcript levels were (P < 0.01) higher in EEP group calves than in the control group. Furthermore, EEP-fed calves consumed less dry matter for 1 kg of live weight gain during the weaning-4 months (P < 0.01) and birth-4 months (P < 0.05) periods. These results indicate that EEP supplementation, through its immunostimulatory effects, plays a crucial role in the control of neonatal calf diarrhoea. Growth and development as well as IGF-1, which stimulates growth in almost all somatic cells, was also significantly increased by EEP supplementation. The combined effect of the rich bioactive compounds found in EEP appears to have a significant impact on health and well-being, resulting in improved early life performance in dairy calves., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Metal and metal oxide nanocomposites have unique properties and are promising for antibacterial and anticancer applications. In this work, we aimed to highlight the relationship between the biosynthesis ways of silver and gold-doped zinc oxide nanocomposites and their functions as anticancer on cell lines (MCF-7 and HepG2). The propolis was used to biosynthesize four different nanoparticles with the same components, including zinc, gold and silver. The nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques, including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and cytotoxicity assays. The result of this study showed that formed nanocomposites have a similar level of Zn, Au, and Ag, ranging from 23-34%, 2-6%, and 2-3%, respectively. In addition, adding the components simultaneously produces the fastest color change, and the fabricated nanoparticles have spherical shapes with different layers. In addition, the prepared nanoparticles influenced the cell viability of the cancer cell lines, with the most effective one when Zn, Au, and Ag were added spontaneously to form a nanocomposite called (All) with IC 50 of 24.5 µg/mL for MCF7 cells and 29.1 µg/mL for HepG2 cells. Thus, the study illustrates that the preparation of nanocomposite generated through green synthesis with different methods significantly affects the structure and function and may improve the synthesis of nanocomposite to be developed into an efficacious therapeutic agent for cancers. In addition, this study opens the door toward a novel track in the field of nanocomposites as it links the synthesis with structure and function. Further anti-cancer properties, as well as animal testing are needed for those nanocomposites., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Sepsis poses one of the biggest public health problems, necessitating the search for new therapeutic alternatives. For centuries, propolis has been widely used in folk medicine to treat various inflammatory and infectious diseases. Given its extensive use, it has excellent potential as an adjuvant treatment for patients with sepsis., Objective: This study evaluated prophylactic treatment with standardized propolis extract (EPP-AF®) and followed the prognosis of sepsis induced by ligation and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)., Methods: Initially, for survival assessment, Swiss mice were separated into five groups: Sham (false operated), control (PBS), ATB (received antibiotic, 8 mg/kg), P10 (received EPP-AF®, 10 mg/kg), and P100 (received EPP-AF®, 100 mg/kg). The animals received PBS, antibiotic, or EPP-AF® by the subcutaneous route 6 h before the CLP procedure. Animal survival was assessed every 12 h for five days when all of them were euthanized., Results: We show that the treatment with EPP-AF® significantly increased the life expectancy of animals with sepsis compared to the control group. Interestingly, prophylactic treatment with EPP-AF® showed no effect on the number of colony-forming units in the peritoneum, blood, or lung. However, there was a decrease in cellular influx in the peritoneum. This alteration was unrelated to the number of bone marrow cells or the differential counting of peripheral blood cells. The coagulogram remained unchanged, including the number of platelets and prothrombin time-activated partial thromboplastin time. However, the inflammatory infiltrate and bleeding in the lung tissue were lower in the animals that received EPP-AF®., Conclusion: Thus, it was possible to conclude that prophylactic treatment with EPP-AF® preserved the lung parenchyma, resulting in an increased lifespan of mice with sepsis. It can be a helpful adjuvant in prophylactic treatment with antibiotics in presurgical conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recently, the growth of consumer demand for functional foods with potential nutritional and health benefits led to rapid growth of analytical tools for profiling of bioactive metabolites and assure quality. Bee propolis is one of the most important bee products owing to its myriad health value. As a gummy exudate produced in beehives after harvesting from different plant species, bee propolis contains bioactive secondary metabolites. The current study aims to profiling the chemical composition of propolis samples from Nigeria using HPLC-UV-ELSD and with the aid of NMR-based analysis for assignment of metabolites classes abundant in Nigerian propolis. Red Nigerian propolis samples were subjected to phytochemical analysis using HPLC-UV-ELSD and NMR. Further chromatographic separation of promising fractions was performed by column chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. Screening of the antitrypanosomal and cytotoxic activities against Trypanosoma brucei and human leukemia cell lines (U937), respectively, was performed. The performance of LC-MS permitted identification of the different components from which 13 compound were identified and allowed combination of fractions to afford 9 fractions from which two isoflavonoids were isolated and identified using 1D and 2D NMR analysis with MS as isosativan and Medicarpin. Red Nigerian propolis crude extract showed the highest inhibitory activity at 6.5 µg/ml compared to moderate activity for the isolated compounds with MIC of 7.6 µg/ml and 12.1 µg/ml for medicarpin and isosativan, respectively. Moreover, the fraction RN-6 from the total extract showed the potent cytotoxic effect with IC 50  = 26.5 µg/ml compared to standard diminazen which showed IC 50  = 29.5 µg/ml., (© 2024. The Author(s).)