Analysis of the cellular effects of the standardized red propolis extract on HeLa and SiHa Cervix Cancer cell lines

• Grant number: 21/12338-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: November 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Raquel Alves dos Santos
• Grantee: Julia Aparecida Arantes Branco
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/04138-8 - Attainment of chemical, analytical, biological, pharmacological and technological studies to fill the gaps on the development of Brazilian propolis sector, AP.TEM

Abstract

Cervical cancer (CCU) is considered one of the leading causes of death in Brazil, being the third leading cause of death and the seventh most common worldwide. The main risk factors are smoking, early initiation of sexual life, and use of oral contraceptives, among others, which include HPV virus infection. In the search for new therapeutic alternatives for this disease, there are natural products, which have been studied for being effective in the treatment of cancer, among which red propolis stands out. Thus, our research group developed a standardized extract of red propolis (SERP), which demonstrated, in preliminary results, cytotoxic potential against different tumoral lines (MCF-7, MCF-10A, MDA-MB-231, HeLa, and SiHa - unpublished data). The objective of this project will be to evaluate the action of SERP and its antiproliferative effect against the cell lines of cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa. Cytotoxicity will be determined by clonogenic survival XTT assays. The potential for inducing death by apoptosis after different treatment times will also be evaluated.(AU)