Preliminary Insights into the Cyto/Genoprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Constituent Galangin In Vitro

Propolis has been well known for centuries as a natural preventive and therapeutic agent. Its numerous health benefits are mainly attributed to its high content of phenolic compounds that have a remarkable antioxidant activity. Since phenolics may exert a dual nature (pro-oxidant and antioxidant) th...

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Main Authors: Mateo Jakac, Irena Brčić Karačonji, Andreja Jurič, Dražen Lušić, Danijel Milinčić, Aleksandra Dramićanin, Mirjana Pešić, Nediljko Landeka, Nevenka Kopjar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/194
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author Mateo Jakac
Irena Brčić Karačonji
Andreja Jurič
Dražen Lušić
Danijel Milinčić
Aleksandra Dramićanin
Mirjana Pešić
Nediljko Landeka
Nevenka Kopjar
author_facet Mateo Jakac
Irena Brčić Karačonji
Andreja Jurič
Dražen Lušić
Danijel Milinčić
Aleksandra Dramićanin
Mirjana Pešić
Nediljko Landeka
Nevenka Kopjar
author_sort Mateo Jakac
collection DOAJ
description Propolis has been well known for centuries as a natural preventive and therapeutic agent. Its numerous health benefits are mainly attributed to its high content of phenolic compounds that have a remarkable antioxidant activity. Since phenolics may exert a dual nature (pro-oxidant and antioxidant) the aim of this study was to investigate the safety profile of the ethanolic extract of propolis and the related flavonoid galangin and their ability to protect lymphocytes from irinotecan-induced cyto/genotoxicity in vitro. Isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes were exposed for 3 h to three concentrations of propolis extract and galangin corresponding to the average daily dose of 0.25 mL of extract [propolis in 70% ethanol (3:7, <i>w</i>/<i>w</i>)], as well as a five- and ten-fold higher concentration. Cyto- and genoprotective effects were tested using a cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay. Treatment with propolis and galangin in the selected concentrations exerted high biocompatibility with lymphocytes and diminished the level of cytogenetic damage caused by irinotecan. Propolis at the same concentration offered a stronger protective effect than single galangin. Also, apoptosis was the prevailing mechanism of cell death in our experimental conditions. These preliminary results speak in favour of future investigations of propolis using other available cytogenetic methods and cell models.
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spelling doaj-art-0a650d3f3ece4071bbc167219b9977c12025-08-20T02:43:04ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-03-0113319410.3390/toxics13030194Preliminary Insights into the Cyto/Genoprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Constituent Galangin In VitroMateo Jakac0Irena Brčić Karačonji1Andreja Jurič2Dražen Lušić3Danijel Milinčić4Aleksandra Dramićanin5Mirjana Pešić6Nediljko Landeka7Nevenka Kopjar8Department of Epidemiology, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Istria County, 52000 Pula, CroatiaDivision of Toxicology, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDivision of Toxicology, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, CroatiaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, 11158 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Epidemiology, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Istria County, 52000 Pula, CroatiaDivision of Toxicology, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaPropolis has been well known for centuries as a natural preventive and therapeutic agent. Its numerous health benefits are mainly attributed to its high content of phenolic compounds that have a remarkable antioxidant activity. Since phenolics may exert a dual nature (pro-oxidant and antioxidant) the aim of this study was to investigate the safety profile of the ethanolic extract of propolis and the related flavonoid galangin and their ability to protect lymphocytes from irinotecan-induced cyto/genotoxicity in vitro. Isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes were exposed for 3 h to three concentrations of propolis extract and galangin corresponding to the average daily dose of 0.25 mL of extract [propolis in 70% ethanol (3:7, <i>w</i>/<i>w</i>)], as well as a five- and ten-fold higher concentration. Cyto- and genoprotective effects were tested using a cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay. Treatment with propolis and galangin in the selected concentrations exerted high biocompatibility with lymphocytes and diminished the level of cytogenetic damage caused by irinotecan. Propolis at the same concentration offered a stronger protective effect than single galangin. Also, apoptosis was the prevailing mechanism of cell death in our experimental conditions. These preliminary results speak in favour of future investigations of propolis using other available cytogenetic methods and cell models.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/194propolisgalanginphenolicsirinotecancytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assaylymphocytes
spellingShingle Mateo Jakac
Irena Brčić Karačonji
Andreja Jurič
Dražen Lušić
Danijel Milinčić
Aleksandra Dramićanin
Mirjana Pešić
Nediljko Landeka
Nevenka Kopjar
Preliminary Insights into the Cyto/Genoprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Constituent Galangin In Vitro
Toxics
propolis
galangin
phenolics
irinotecan
cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay
lymphocytes
title Preliminary Insights into the Cyto/Genoprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Constituent Galangin In Vitro
title_full Preliminary Insights into the Cyto/Genoprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Constituent Galangin In Vitro
title_fullStr Preliminary Insights into the Cyto/Genoprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Constituent Galangin In Vitro
title_full_unstemmed Preliminary Insights into the Cyto/Genoprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Constituent Galangin In Vitro
title_short Preliminary Insights into the Cyto/Genoprotective Properties of Propolis and Its Constituent Galangin In Vitro
title_sort preliminary insights into the cyto genoprotective properties of propolis and its constituent galangin in vitro
topic propolis
galangin
phenolics
irinotecan
cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay
lymphocytes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/194
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