Exploring the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiallergic potential of Brazilian propolis in monocytes
Fernanda Lopes Conte, Ana Catarina Pereira, Gonçalo Brites, Isabel Ferreira, Ana Cristina Silva, Ana Isabel Sebastião, Patrícia Matos, Cláudia Pereira, Maria Teresa Batista, José Maurício Sforcin, Maria Teresa Cruz
Abstract
Propolis is a bee product used since ancient times due to its diverse biological applications. We aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action of Brazilian propolis in THP-1 cells stimulated with 1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (DNFB) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was assessed by resazurin assay, antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay, superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 and 2 activity was evaluated by colorimetric assay. CD86 expression was determined by flow cytometry. IL-1β and HMOX-1 were analysed by Western blot. Propolis did not affect cell viability and exhibited a potent antioxidant activity. Propolis alone induced SOD 1 activity. LPS stimulated SOD2, concomitantly or not with propolis. In the presence of LPS, propolis induced a higher HMOX-1 expression. Propolis inhibited CD86 expression stimulated by DNFB. LPS induced pro-IL-1β expression and propolis did not affect its action. Propolis exhibited an antioxidant action in a cell-free system and in a cell based-model. Propolis exerted an anti-inflammatory/antiallergic action, probably due to its antioxidant activity.