Algerian propolis: between protection of normal cells and potentialisation of the anticancer effects of doxorubicin against breast cancer cells via P-glycoprotein inhibition and cell cycle arrest in the S phase.
Hassiba Rouibah, Wided Kebsa, Mesbah Lahouel, Malek Zihlif, Mamoun Ahram, B Aburmaileh, M A Mansour Al Shhab, Hamzeh J. Al‐Ameer, Ebtihal Mustafa
Abstract
of Dox against MDA-MB-231 cells decreased by 10-fold. The increased sensitivity of cancer cells to the combined treatment was explained by the capacity of propolis to cause a significant increase in Dox content in MDA-MB-231. Very interestingly, Algerian propolis showed its ability to inhibit efficiently P-gp function in comparison with verapamil, reference P-gp modulator, which proves the efficacy of propolis to reverse the problem of multidrug resistance. Our results showed also that propolis could protect normal cells from deleterious effects of Dox by amelioration of cell viability. In conclusion, the obtained results indicate that Algerian propolis potentiated the antitumor effects of Dox on breast cancer cells and could reduce the problem of multidrug resistance. Therefore, Algerian propolis may be an effective agent in a combined treatment with Dox for increased therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer. Clinically, our results are relevant because with this combined therapy it may be possible to counter the problem of cancer cell resistance while reducing the problem of toxicity on normal cells.