Immunomodulatory action of propolis from Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. produced in the Northeast Caatinga and isolated constituents on human monocytes

• Grant number: 23/05103-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Ethnopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: José Maurício Sforcin
• Grantee: José Maurício Sforcin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ary Fernandes Júnior ; Gislane Lelis Vilela de Oliveira ; Jairo Kenupp Bastos ; Lucilene Delazari dos Santos ; Maria Teresa de Teixeira Cruz Rosete ; Maria Terezinha Serrão Peraçoli

Abstract

Propolis has attracted the interest of researchers due to its potential for new drug development. This bee product has a complex chemical composition, which varies according to the vegetal sources used by bees. In this study, we aim at investigating a more recently analyzed propolis sample produced from Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir., commonly known as "jurema-preta", in the northeast caatinga. Preliminary data from our group revealed that some of its constituents exhibit an inhibitory action regarding cytokine production. The viability of human monocytes incubated with propolis and its constituents will be assessed, as well as the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and those related to the inflammasome (TNF-±, IL-1², IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, IL-33). The constituents showing inhibitory action will be investigated after monocyte incubation with LPS regarding cytokine and arachidonic acid metabolites (PGE2 and LTB4) production, and NRLP3, NF-kB and p38 MAPK intracellular pathways. The components showing pro-inflammatory action will be assessed regarding cell markers expression (TLR-2, TLR-4, CD80, HLA-DR) by monocytes, the microbicidal activity against Streptococcus pyogenes and H2O2 production. The constituents showing promising effects will be incubated with monocytes for the proteomic analysis. This project may lead to new findings concerning the anti-inflammatory action of this propolis sample, aiming at a new therapeutic approach, minimizing side effects, and presenting a better cost-benefit ratio. (AU)