The Antiprotozoal Activity of Papua New Guinea Propolis and Its Triterpenes

Abstract

Profiling a propolis sample from Papua New Guinea (PNG) using high-resolution mass spectrometry indicated that it contained several triterpenoids. Further fractionation by column chromatography and medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) followed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) identified 12 triterpenoids. Five of these were obtained pure and the others as mixtures of two or three compounds. The compounds identified were: mangiferonic acid, ambonic acid, isomangiferolic acid, ambolic acid, 27-hydroxyisomangiferolic acid, cycloartenol, cycloeucalenol, 24-methylenecycloartenol, 20-hydroxybetulin, betulin, betulinic acid and madecassic acid. The fractions from the propolis and the purified compounds were tested in vitro against Crithidia fasciculata, Trypanosoma congolense, drug-resistant Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma b. brucei and multidrug-resistant Trypanosoma b. brucei (B48). They were also assayed for their toxicity against U947 cells. The compounds and fractions displayed moderate to high activity against parasitic protozoa but only low cytotoxicity against the mammalian cells. The most active isolated compound, 20-hydroxybetulin, was found to be trypanostatic when different concentrations were tested against T. b. brucei growth.

Antineoplastic and Antitrypanosomal Properties of Propolis from Tetragonula biroi Friese

“…In line with previous evidence, the antitrypanosomal activity of the PP studied in the current report yielded satisfactory results. The observed antitrypanosomal activity observed in the current study was in line with previous findings [ 20 , 25 , 34 ]. Among the tested compounds, the Ph-2 fraction and 27-hydroxymangiferolic acid had the highest antitrypanosomal activities, at IC50 values of 11.6 and 11.4 µg/mL, respectively, followed by 27-hydroxyisomangiferolic acid, with an IC50 of 13.9 µg/mL.…”

“…In the current study, the chemical characterization of propolis resulted in the detection of terpenoids as the major constituents in the propolis sample. The spectral characteristics and the occurrence of terpenoids in the propolis extract obtained here were similar to previous investigations on propolis from Indonesia and the United Kingdom [ 20 , 21 ]. Terpenoids role as antioxidants and promising tools in the treatment of CNS disorders such as Parkinson’s disease has been documented [ 22 ].…”

Cycloeucalenol and Ρ-Coumaric Acid from Nigerian Propolis and their Antimicrobial Activity

“…Olefinic protons occurred as a singlet and quartet at δ 4.71 (s, 1H), 4.66 (q, J = 1.5 Hz, 1H), δ for EPE 47 while EPE 50 showed olefinic protons as a singlet and doublet at δ 4.72 (s, 1H), 4.66 (d, J = 1.7 Hz, 1H). methylene protons of cyclopropane ring as triplets at 3.21 (td, J = 9.9, 9.1, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 3.22 (td, J = 9.8, 9.3, 4.7 Hz, 1H) for EPE 47 and EPE 50 respectively, the 1 H NMR spectral data were consistent with literature data for 9,10 . Based on literature reports and comparison of the 1 H NMR data with spectra of previously isolated compounds in our lab the fractions were identified as cycloeucalenol (1).…”

“…11 Cycloartane triterpenes have been reported to have antitumor, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, splasmolytic, and cytotoxic properties. 10,12,13 (2). The compound has been severally isolated from propolis samples.…”

“…7 ,8 Propolis has been reported to be rich in triterpenes and some of their botanical sources have been identified. 9,10 This study was carried out on two propolis samples from southeastern Nigeria. The isolation of cycloeucalenol and paracoumaric acid and their antimicrobial activities are hereby reported for these samples.…”