Cytotoxic prenylflavanones from Taiwanese propolis

J Nat Prod. 2003 Apr;66(4):503-6. doi: 10.1021/np0203180.

Abstract

Two new prenylflavanones, propolin A (2) and propolin B (3), were isolated and characterized from Taiwanese propolis. Both compounds were found to have cytotoxic properties against three cancer cell lines. DNA content analyses and DNA fragmentation indicated that propolin A (2) efficiently induced apoptosis in cancer cell lines, but had no effect on the cell cycle program. Furthermore, both propolin A (2) and B (3) are potential antioxidant agents and show strong scavenging effects against most types of free radicals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / isolation & purification*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Bees / chemistry*
  • DNA / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / isolation & purification*
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Free Radical Scavengers / chemistry
  • Free Radical Scavengers / isolation & purification*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Glioma
  • HL-60 Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Melanoma
  • Propolis / chemistry*
  • Taiwan
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • propolin A
  • propolin B
  • DNA
  • Propolis