Polyphenolic composition and biological activities of Bulgarian propolis samples with potential pharmaceutical applications Polyphenolic composition and biological activities of Bulgarian propolis
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Abstract
Propolis (bee glue) is a complex biological substance produced by honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) and used as a natural remedy due to its therapeutic properties. The present research aimed to investigate the phenolic content, antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, antihemolytic, and ex vivo anti-inflammatory activities of DMSO extracts of six propolis samples (P1-P6) from three regions of Bulgaria. The DMSO extracts exhibited TPC values from 189.30 to 290.80 mg GAE.g-1, TFC values from 64.41 to 151.60 mg QE.g-1 and significant antioxidant activity (863.73 - 1799.22 mM TE.g-1 by the DPPH assay, and 796.86 - 1168.02 mM TE.g-1 by the FRAP assay). The values of AChE inhibitory activity at concentration of 1 mg.ml-1 ranged between 40.12 and 46.44% (IC50 = 1.07 - 1.39 mg.ml-1). All extracts demonstrated high antihemolytic activity, which at concentration of 0.5 mg.ml-1 showed erythrocyte protection of 76.28 - 89.32% (IC50 = 0.06 - 0.14 mg.ml-1). The results of the immunohistochemical analysis showed that extracts P1, P2, P3, P4 and P6 suppressed the expression of IL-1β and NOS3 in varying degree. The samples P1 and P2 completely suppressed NOS3 expression and strongly reduced the intensity of IL-1β expression; consequently, they had the highest ex vivo anti-inflammatory activity. Based on the results, we can conclude that the investigated propolis samples possessed promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Therefore, they can find application as prospective therapeutic agents.
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References
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Demestre M., Messerli S.M., Celli N., Shahhossini M., Kluwe L., Mautner V., Maruta H. CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester)-based propolis extract (Bio 30) suppresses the growth of human neurofibromatosis (NF) tumor xenografts in mice. Phytotherapy Research, 2009, 23(2): 226-230. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2594
Elangovan B. A review on pharmacological studies of natural flavanone: pinobanksin. 3 Biotech, 2024, 14(3): 111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-023-03904-5
El-Guendouz S., Aazza S., Lyoussi B., Antunes M.D., Faleiro M.L., Miguel M.G. Anti-acetylcholin-esterase, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antityrosinase and antixanthine oxidase activities of Moroccan propolis. International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 2016, 51(8): 1762-1773. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.13133
El-Guendouz S., Lyoussi B., Miguel M.G. Insight on propolis from Mediterranean countries chemical composition, biological activities and application fields. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 2019, 16(7): e1900094. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201900094
El-Hady F.K.A., Souleman A.M.A., El-Shahid Z.A. Antiacetylcholinesterase and cytotoxic activities of Egyptian propolis with correlation to its GC/MS and HPLC analysis. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 2015, 34(2): 32-42. Available at: https://globalresearchonline.net/journalcontents/v34-2/06.pdf
El-Hady F.K.A., Souleman A.M.A., Ibrahim I.G., Abdel-Aziz M.S., El-Shahid Z.A., Ali E.A., Elsarrag M.S.A. Cytotoxic, anti-acetylcholinesterase, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Sudanese propolis with correlation to its GC/MS and HPLC analysis. Pharmacist's Letter, 2016, 8(19): 339-350.
Fathi Hafshejani S., Lotfi S., Rezvannejad E., Mortazavi M., Riahi-Madvar A. Correlation between total phenolic and flavonoid contents and biological activities of 12 ethanolic extracts of Iranian propolis. Food Science & Nutrition, 2023, 11(7): 4308-4325. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3356
Forma E., Bryś M. Anticancer activity of propolis and its compounds. Nutrients, 2021, 13(8): 2594. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082594
Funakoshi-Tago M., Okamoto K., Izumi R., Tago K., Yanagisawa K., Narukawa Y., Kiuchi F., Kasahara T., Tamura H. Anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids in Nepalese propolis is attributed to inhibition of the IL-33 signaling pathway. International Immunopharmacology, 2015, 25(1): 189-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2015.01.012
Hossain R., Quispe C., Khan R.A., Saikat A.S.M., Ray P., Ongalbek D., Yeskaliyeva B., Jain D., Smeriglio A., Trombetta D., Kiani R., Kobarfard F., Mojgani N., Saffarian P., Ayatollahi S.A., Sarkar C., Islam M.T., Keriman D., Uçar A., Martorell M., Sureda A., Pintus G., Butnariu M., Sharifi-Rad J., Cho W.C. Propolis: An update on its chemistry and pharmacological applications. Chinese Medicine, 2022, 17(1): 100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-022-00651-2
Humaira A.F., Aini S.R., Hasina R. Anti-inflammatory activity of propolis Trigona sp. water extract from North Lombok with red blood cell membrane stability method. Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry, 2024, 13: 555-558. https://doi.org/10.14421/biomedich.2024.132.555-558
Ivanov I., Vrancheva R., Marchev A., Petkova N., Aneva I., Denev P., Georgiev V., Pavlov A. Antioxidant activities and phenolic compounds in Bulgarian Fumaria species. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 2014, 3(2): 296-306. Available at: https://www.ijcmas.com/vol-3-2/Ivan%20G.%20Ivanov,%20et%20al.pdf
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How to Cite
TUMBARSKI, Yulian et al.
Polyphenolic composition and biological activities of Bulgarian propolis samples with potential pharmaceutical applications.
Food Science and Applied Biotechnology, [S.l.], v. 8, n. 2, p. 277-292, oct. 2025.
ISSN 2603-3380.
Available at: <https://www.ijfsab.com/index.php/fsab/article/view/547>. Date accessed: 18 feb. 2026.
doi: https://doi.org/10.30721/fsab2025.v8.i2.547.