CAPE and Neuroprotection: A Review

Abstract

Propolis, a product of the honey bee, has been used in traditional medicine for many years. A hydrophobic bioactive polyphenolic ester, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), is one of the most extensively investigated active components of propolis. Several studies have indicated that CAPE has a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-proliferative, and anti-neoplastic properties. This review largely describes CAPE neuroprotective effects in many different conditions and summarizes its molecular mechanisms of action. CAPE was found to have a neuroprotective effect on different neurodegenerative disorders. At the basis of these effects, CAPE has the ability to protect neurons from several underlying causes of various human neurologic diseases, such as oxidative stress, apoptosis dysregulation, and brain inflammation. CAPE can also protect the nervous system from some diseases which negatively affect it, such as diabetes, septic shock, and hepatic encephalopathy, while numerous studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of CAPE against adverse reactions induced by different neurotoxic substances. The potential role of CAPE in protecting the central nervous system (CNS) from secondary injury following various CNS ischemic conditions and CAPE anti-cancer activity in CNS is also reviewed. The structure–activity relationship of CAPE synthetic derivatives is discussed as well.

Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on cadmium-induced testicular injury: A crucial role of antioxidant enzymes in male mice infertility

“…Our findings are in line with the results of Balaha et al who clarified in their study the potentiality of CAPE against Cd-induced toxicity. This is demonstrated in certain antioxidant effect of CAPE on tissue damage [46]. This is also in agreement with the results of Abdallah et al who affirmed that a section in testes of a rat treated with Cd and CAPE showed an increase of spermatogenic cells.…”

“…who clarified in their study the potentiality of CAPE against Cd-induced toxicity. This is demonstrated in certain antioxidant effect of CAPE on tissue damage [ 46 ]. This is also in agreement with the results of Abdallah et al.…”

Phenolic Characterization and Neuroprotective Properties of Grape Pomace Extracts

“…Antidepressant and anxiolytic properties as well as beneficial effects in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases were ascribed to resveratrol, the most studied phenolic compound in wine [ 8 , 9 ]. Additionally, caffeic acid and its natural derivative, caffeic acid phenetyl ester (CAPE), have numerous neuroprotection effects [ 10 ] against cancer and others [ 11 ]. Other phenols, including catechins, have remarkable neuroprotective activity [ 12 ] to such an extent that new therapeutical targets were proposed [ 8 , 13 ].…”

Curcumin and Related Compounds in Cancer Cells: New Avenues for Old Molecules

“…Curcumin and related compounds including caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), and caffeic acid ( Kabala-Dzik et al, 2017 ) are bioactive compounds mainly derived from natural sources and known for years for their pleiotropic effects ( Figure 1 ). These compounds show anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-tumor effects ( Chiao et al, 1995 ; Beauregard et al, 2015 ; Balaha et al, 2021 ), mainly ascribable to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Curcumin product is used as cosmetic additive and dietary supplement and as herbal medicine ( Hassanalilou et al, 2019 ).…”