Russo A, Longo R, Vanella A
Department of Biochemistry, Medical Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy.
Fitoterapia. 2002 Nov;73 Suppl 1:S21-9. doi: 10.1016/s0367-326x(02)00187-9.
Propolis, a natural product produced by the honeybee, has been used for thousands of years in folk medicine for several purposes. The extract contains amino acids, phenolic acids, phenolic acid esters, flavonoids, cinnamic acid, terpenes and caffeic acid. It possesses several biological activities such as antiinflammatory, immunostimulatory, antiviral and antibacterial. The exact mode of physiological or biochemical mechanisms responsible for the medical effects, however, is yet to be determined. In this work, we have investigated the antioxidant activity of a propolis extract deprived of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE). In addition, the activity of CAPE and galangin was also examined. Propolis extract (with and without CAPE) and its active components showed a dose-dependent free radical scavenging effect, a significant inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity, and an antilipoperoxidative capacity. Propolis extract with CAPE was more active than propolis extract without CAPE. CAPE, used alone, exhibited a strong antioxidant activity, higher than galangin. The experimental evidence, therefore, suggests that CAPE plays an important role in the antioxidant activity of propolis.
蜂胶是蜜蜂产生的一种天然产物，数千年来一直被用于民间医学的多种用途。该提取物含有氨基酸、酚酸、酚酸酯、黄酮类化合物、肉桂酸、萜类化合物和咖啡酸。它具有多种生物活性，如抗炎、免疫刺激、抗病毒和抗菌。然而，导致这些医学效果的确切生理或生化机制尚未确定。在这项工作中，我们研究了不含咖啡酸苯乙酯（CAPE）的蜂胶提取物的抗氧化活性。此外，还检测了CAPE和高良姜素的活性。蜂胶提取物（含和不含CAPE）及其活性成分表现出剂量依赖性的自由基清除作用、对黄嘌呤氧化酶活性的显著抑制以及抗脂质过氧化能力。含CAPE的蜂胶提取物比不含CAPE的蜂胶提取物活性更强。单独使用时，CAPE表现出很强的抗氧化活性，高于高良姜素。因此，实验证据表明CAPE在蜂胶的抗氧化活性中起重要作用。
