Emerging roles of propolis: antioxidant, cardioprotective and anti-angiogenic actions

• Grant number: 13/05515-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Dulcineia Saes Parra Abdalla
• Grantee: Dulcineia Saes Parra Abdalla
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Propolis has attracted attention in recent years due to its beneficial effects, whichmake it a potential preventive and therapeutic agent as well as a useful additivein foods and cosmetics. The aim of this review is to discuss the growing evidencethat propolis may, via a diverse array of biological actions, assist in theprevention of some inflammation-mediated pathologies including cardiovasculardisease. The active components of propolis that have been identified so farinclude polyphenols and flavonoids. These compounds have cardioprotective,vasoprotective, antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenicactions. Many studies have been undertaken to elucidate themechanism(s) by which propolis acts, which involve cellular signaling targets andinteractions at the genomic level. This review will highlight effects of propolis thatmay assist in the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases, such ascardiovascular disease. (AU)