Nonclinical Toxicological Studies of Brazilian Red Propolis and Its Primary Botanical Source Dalbergia ecastaphyllum

Abstract

Propolis is one of the most widely used products in traditional medicine. One of the most prominent types of Brazilian propolis is the red one, whose primary botanical source is Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. Despite the potential of Brazilian red propolis for developing new products with pharmacological activity, few studies guarantee safety in its use. The objective of this study was the evaluation of the possible toxic effects of Brazilian red propolis and D. ecastaphyllum, as well as the cytotoxicity assessment of the main compounds of red propolis on tumoral cell lines. Hydroalcoholic extracts of the Brazilian red propolis (BRPE) and D. ecastaphyllum stems (DSE) and leaves (DLE) were prepared and chromatographed for isolation of the major compounds. RP-HPLC-DAD was used to quantify the major compounds in the obtained extracts. The XTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of the extracts in the human fibroblast cell line (GM07492A). The results revealed IC50 values of 102.7, 143.4, and 253.1 μg/mL for BRPE, DSE, and DLE, respectively. The extracts were also evaluated for their genotoxic potential in the micronucleus assay in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts cells (V79), showing the absence of genotoxicity. The BRPE was investigated for its potential in vivo toxicity in the zebrafish model. Concentrations of 0.8–6.3 mg/L were safe for the animals, with a LC50 of 9.37 mg/L. Of the 11 compounds isolated from BRPE, medicarpin showed a selective cytotoxic effect against the HeLa cell line. These are the initial steps to determine the toxicological potential of Brazilian red propolis.

Phytochemical, Antiplasmodial, Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Evaluation of a Southeast Brazilian Brown Propolis Produced by Apis mellifera Bees

“…These findings corroborate with the hypothesis that Araucaria and Pinus are the primary plant sources of this propolis. Pinoresinol was already related in Chinese propolis and Brazilian red propolis [7] . The lignan maitaresinol has not been reported in propolis samples.…”

“…The brown type contains mainly phenolic acids and diterpenes, such as coniferylaldehyde, imbricatoloic acid, isocupressic acid, and communic acid [5] . The red type, characteristic of the northeast region of Brazil, contains mainly isoflavones and prenylated benzophenones, as vestitol, neovestitol, medicarpin, fomonometin, guttiferone E, xanthochymol and oblogifolin B [6,7] …”

Brazilian Red Propolis Presents Promising Anti-H. pylori Activity in In Vitro and In Vivo Assays with the Ability to Modulate the Immune Response

“…Previously authentic standards from CHEBRP isolated by Aldana-Mejia et al [ 44 ] were used to identify the major compounds on the sample. The standard compounds included liquiritigenin, formononetin, vestitol, neovestitol, medicarpin, 7-O-methylvestitol, guttiferone E/xanthochymol, and oblongifolin B.…”

Chemical characterization of Brazilian propolis using automated direct thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

“…The red propolis group was characterized by the sesquiterpene β ‐bisabolene, the pterocarpan medicarpin, and the isoflavan 7‐ O ‐methylvestitol. Medicarpin and 7‐ O ‐methylvestitol were reported in red propolis ethanolic extract from BA state 23 . However, the brown propolis type exhibited higher hydrocarbons, aldehydes, monoterpenes, and ketones.…”

“…Medicarpin and 7-O-methylvestitol were reported in red propolis ethanolic extract from BA state. 23 However, the brown propolis type exhibited higher hydrocarbons, aldehydes, monoterpenes, and ketones. According to Ribeiro et al, 18 brown propolis should contain at least 33 g kg −1 of sesquiterpenes, 26 g kg −1 of oxygenated sesquiterpenes, and 19 g kg −1 of oxygenated monoterpenes (18.9 g kg −1 ).…”