Antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of stingless bee Melipona scutellaris geopropolis

Author(s)

da Cunha, Marcos Guilherme ^[1] ; Franchin, Marcelo ^[1] ; de Carvalho Galvao, Livia Camara ^[1] ; Tasca Gois de Ruiz, Ana Lucia ^[2] ; de Carvalho, Joao Ernesto ^[2] ; Ikegaki, Masarahu ^[3] ; de Alencar, Severino Matias ^[4] ; Koo, Hyun ^[5] ; Rosalen, Pedro Luiz ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Piracicaba Dent Sch, Dept Physiol Sci, BR-13414903 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Res Ctr Chem Biol & Agr, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Alfenas, Coll Pharmaceut Sci, BR-37130000 Alfenas, MG - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Agri Food Ind Food & Nutr, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Rochester, Ctr Oral Biol, Rochester, NY 14642 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE; v. 13, JAN 28 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 38

Abstract

Background: Geopropolis is a type of propolis containing resin, wax, and soil, collected by threatened stingless bee species native to tropical countries and used in folk medicine. However, studies concerning the biological activity and chemical composition of geopropolis are scarce. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and antiproliferative activity of the ethanolic extract of geopropolis (EEGP) collected by Melipona scutellaris and its bioactive fraction against important clinical microorganisms as well as their in vitro cytotoxicity and chemical profile. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of EEGP and fractions was examined by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against six bacteria strains as well as their ability to inhibit Streptococcus mutans biofilm adherence. Total growth inhibition (TGI) was chosen to assay the antiproliferative activity of EEGP and its bioactive fraction against normal and cancer cell lines. The chemical composition of M. scutellaris geopropolis was identified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: EEGP significantly inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus strains and S. mutans at low concentrations, and its hexane fraction (HF) presented the highest antibacterial activity. Also, both EEGP and HF inhibited S. mutans biofilm adherence (p < 0.05) and showed selectivity against human cancer cell lines, although only HF demonstrated selectivity at low concentrations. The chemical analyses performed suggest the absence of flavonoids and the presence of benzophenones as geopropolis major compounds. Conclusions: The empirical use of this unique type of geopropolis by folk medicine practitioners was confirmed in the present study, since it showed antimicrobial and antiproliferative potential against the cancer cell lines studied. It is possible that the major compounds found in this type of geopropolis are responsible for its properties. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/20214-7 - Identification and chemical characterization of bioactive and nanostructured fraction of geopropolis (Melipona scutellaris) and their related pharmacological activities
• Grantee: Pedro Luiz Rosalen
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/12354-6 - Evaluation of antimicrobial potential and in vitro activity on the dental biofilm by isolated compounds from melipolinea propolis (Melipona scutellaris)
• Grantee: Marcos Guilherme da Cunha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master