Botanic Origin of Propolis Extract Powder Drives Contrasted Impact on Diabesity in High-Fat-Fed Mice

Abstract

Propolis extracts are considered as nutraceutical products with potentialities towards obesity and comorbidities management. Nevertheless, propolis extracts composition is highly variable and depends on the botanic origin of plants used by the bees to produce propolis. This study aims to evaluate the differential effect of poplar propolis extract powder (PPEP), Baccharis propolis extract powder (BPEP), and/ or Dalbergia propolis extract powder (DPEP) on obesity and glucose homeostasis in high-fat-fed mice. PPEP supplementation reduced high-fat (HF)-mediated body weight gain, adiposity index, and improved glucose homeostasis in male C57Bl/6J mice that were submitted to a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, whereas BPEP, DPEP, or a mix of the three PEPs did not modify those parameters. Adipose tissue (AT) gene expression profiling highlighted an induction of mRNA related to lipid catabolism and an inhibition of mRNA coding for inflammatory markers. Several Nrf2 target genes, coding for antioxidant enzymes, were induced in AT under PPEP effect, but not by other PEP. Interestingly, representative PPEP polyphenols mediated the induction of Nrf2 target genes cell-autonomously in adipocytes, suggesting that this induction may be related to the specific polyphenol content of PPEP. Whereas PPEP supplementation has demonstrated a clear potential to blunt the onset of obesity and associated comorbidities, other PEPs (from Baccharis and Dalbergia) were inefficient to support their role in preventive nutrition.

Recent Update on the Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Propolis

“…Many other animal studies had confirmed the ability of propolis in reducing the level and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in metabolic syndrome-related disorders/diseases. However, Cardinault [ 76 ] compared three different types of propolis namely poplar, Baccharis , and Dalbergia and found that poplar propolis reduced the expression of mRNAs coding for TNF-α, chemokine C-C motif ligand 5 (Ccl5), and Ccl2, while Baccharis and Dalbergia propolis appeared to increase these mRNA expression in high fat-fed mice. Interestingly, the poplar and Baccharis propolis had similar polyphenol profile, suggesting it could be other types of bioactive compounds that contribute to this difference in effect [ 76 ].…”

Exploring the Prospective Role of Propolis in Modifying Aging Hallmarks

“…In the research conducted by Cardinault and their team, it was suggested that the polyphenols in propolis prompted the transactivation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), resulting in the amelioration of glucose homeostasis, elevated production of antioxidant molecules, and protection against oxidative stress in diabesity in high-fat-fed mice [ 252 , 253 ]. Another study demonstrated that propolis lowered fat accumulation in the adipose tissues of rats on a high-fat diet by suppressing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which plays a role in regulating genes associated with adipocyte differentiation [ 254 ].…”

Propolis polyphenols: A review on the composition and anti-obesity mechanism of different types of propolis polyphenols

“…Several studies have shown that CAPE has many beneficial biological properties, including antioxidation (22), improving radiation protection (26), insulin resistance (27), and anti-obesity (28). Cardinault et al explored the differential effects of three types of propolis alcohol extracts (Poplar, Baccharis and Dalbergia) on obesity in high-fat-fed mice, and found that only poplar propolis extract exerted a significant anti-obesity effect, suggesting that this difference may be related to its unique polyphenol compound (such as CAPE) (29). Moreover, in vivo and in vitro studies have found that CAPE can inhibit the differentiation of mouse preadipocytes and prevent adipogenesis (30,31), and its specific mechanism will be discussed in the next chapter.…”