Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester, an Antioxidant from Propolis, Protects Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Competitive Cyclists against Hyperthermal Stress

Abstract

Hyperthermal stress and resulting free radical generation is known to impair endurance capacity and immune cell redistribution during prolonged exercise. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a phenolic compound purified from propolis, has many biological and pharmacological activities including antioxidation. To examine whether CAPE has protective effect against hyperthermal stress in athletes, we isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from competitive cyclists and assessed their response to hyperthermia with or without CAPE pretreatment. We found that pretreatment of cyclists' MNC with CAPE (0, 1, 2, 4 microg/mL) reversed or reduced hyperthermia-induced survival inhibition, necrosis, superoxide production, glutathione depletion, and intracellular superoxide burst in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that CAPE may enhance the hyperthermal tolerance in immune mononuclear cells of competitive cyclists.

Propolis: Is there a potential for the development of new drugs?

“…In humans, CAPE (1, 2 and 4 g/ml) showed protective effect against hyperthermal stress in athletes, enhancing the hyperthermal tolerance in immune mononuclear cells of competitive cyclists (Chen et al, 2009). Since the modern life comprises a wide range of stressful conditions, these preliminary results point out the importance of further research in order to understand propolis usefulness during stress and for the development of new medicaments.…”

Growth, Mineral Deposition, and Physiological Responses of Broiler Chickens Offered Honey in Drinking Water during Hot-Dry Season

“…The authors found these to be efficacious. Chen et al [20] reported that pretreating of cyclists with propolis extract reversed or reduced the hyperthermiainduced effects, including reduced cell death, inhibition of the overproduction of superoxide, and an attenuation of the depletion of glutathione in the exercising cyclists. Wang et al [21] worked and reported on the use of bee pollen.…”

“…They do not possess sweat glands [2,3]. Environmental temperature in South-Western Nigeria is often higher than [18][19][20][21] • C [4] recommended for optimal productivity of growing broiler chickens [5]. Often, growth and welfare of the birds are compromised [6][7][8][9] and survival lowered [10] because of the birds responses to the stressor.…”

Productive, Qualitative, and Physiological Aspects of Layer Hens Fed with Propolis

“…Propolis has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pharmacological properties (Nieva Moreno et al, 1999). Propolis, especially its compound CAPE (Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester), is used in research on heat stress mitigation, as it improves thermal tolerance (Chen et al, 2009). The antioxidant, cytostatic, antimutagenic, and immunomodulatory properties of propolis are based on its rich flavonoid, phenolic acid, and terpenoid contents (Kimoto et al, 1999;Wang et al, 2003).…”