Propolis Compounds Reprogram Cell Death in Colon Cancer

This finding is consistent with other studies worldwide, confirming the anti-cancer properties of propolis. In this case, they've identified 3 compounds (of the 300 found in propolis) which triggers cell death in human colon cancer cells. The phytochemicals are derivatives of cinnamic acid - Artepelin C, Baccharin & Drupanin.

Propolis cinnamic acid derivatives induce apoptosis through both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis signaling pathways and modulate of miRNA expression

J Phytomedicine, 2014 July

Abstract:

Propolis cinnamic acid derivatives have a number of biological activities including anti-oxidant and anti-cancer ones. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of 3 representative propolis cinnamic acid derivatives, i.e., Artepilin C, Baccharin and Drupanin in human colon cancer cell lines. 

Our study demonstrated that these compounds had a potent apoptosis-inductive effect even on drug-resistant colon cancer cells. Combination treatment of human colon cancer DLD-1 cells with 2 of these compounds, each at its IC₂₀ concentration, induced apoptosis by stimulating both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis signaling pathways. Especially, Baccharin plus Drupanin exhibited a synergistic growth-inhibitory effect by strengthening both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic signaling transduction through

TRAIL/DR4/5 and/or FasL/Fas death-signaling loops and by increasing the expression level of miR-143, resulting in decreased expression levels of the target gene MAPK/Erk5 and its downstream target c-Myc. 

These data suggest that the supplemental intake of these compounds found in propolis has enormous significance with respect to cancer prevention.