PMID: 

Lipids Health Dis. 2019 Nov 16 ;18(1):200. Epub 2019 Nov 16. PMID: 31733650

Abstract Title: 

Bee pollen and propolis improve neuroinflammation and dysbiosis induced by propionic acid, a short chain fatty acid in a rodent model of autism.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of autism because the cytokine levels are typically disturbed in the brain in autistic patients. Prebiotics-rich diet maintains the healthy gut microbiota and hence can regulate the neuroinflammation indirectly. The study aimed to investigate the role of bee pollen and propolis in ameliorating neuroinflammation, including cytokine levels, in an animal model of autism.METHODS: Hamsters were classified as four groups: Group I, control; Group II, autistic model/animals treated with 250 mg propionic acid (PPA)/kg body weight (BW)/day for 3 days; Group III, animals treated with bee pollen at a dose of 250 mg/kg BW/day for 4 weeks; and Group IV, animals treated with propolis at a dose of 250 mg/kg BW/day for 4 weeks. Neuroinflammatory responses were evaluated using the levels of interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1α), IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα).RESULTS: Significant decrease of IL-10 (P

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PMID: 

J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2019 Nov 22. Epub 2019 Nov 22. PMID: 31752067

Abstract Title: 

Apoptotic potential and chemical composition of Jordanian propolis extract against different cancer cell lines.

Abstract: 

Propolis is a resinous substance that is collected byfrom plant sources and is used in traditional medicine. To study the phytochemical constituents and apoptotic potential of Jordanian propolis extract against different cancer cell lines. Propolis was extracted using methanol, hexane, and ethyl acetate and was fractionated using chromatographic methods. Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT and LDH assays. The apoptotic potential was investigated using florescence microscopy, multicaspase assay, Annexin-V and dead cell assay, and cell cycle assay. The phytochemical constituents were analyzed using GC-MS. The methanol extract of propolis exhibited cytotoxic potential against all cell lines tested. The ICvalues of the methanol extract were 47.4, 77.8, 91.2, and 145.0µg/mL for HepG2, LoVo, MDAMB231, and MCF7 cell lines, respectively. The ICvalues of the F1 fraction were 31.6 (MDAMB231), 38.9 (HepG2), 36.7 (LoVo) and 75.5 (MCF7)µg/mL. On further purification using thin layer chromatography, the ICvalues of the F1-3 fraction were found to be 84.31(HepG2), 79.2 (MCF7), 70.4 (LoVo), and 68.9 (MDAMB231)µg/mL, respectively. The anticancer potential of the F1 fraction was confirmed through the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. The GC-MS analysis of the F1 fraction revealed the presence of 3-methyl-4-isopropylphenol – (29.44%) as a major constituent. These findings indicate the potential of propolis extract as a cancer therapy. However, further investigation is required to assess the acute and subacute toxicity of the most active fraction.

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PMID: 

Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Sep 15 ;7(17):2763-2766. Epub 2019 Aug 30. PMID: 31844433

Abstract Title: 

Protective Effects of Propolis Extract in a Rat Model of Traumatic Brain Injury via Hsp70 Induction.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the major global health problems. Secondary brain injury is a complex inflammation cascades process that causes brain cell apoptosis. Propolis is a natural product that has neuroprotective property.AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of propolis toward Hsp70 expression with apoptosis marker in brain tissue after TBI.METHODS: Thirty-three Sprague Dawley rats were randomised into three treatments group, i.e. sham-operated controls, closed head injury (CHI), and CHI with propolis extract (treatment group). In the treatment group, propolis was given 200 mg/kg per oral for 7 days then harvested brain tissues after sacrificed by cervical dislocation at day 8. We investigated Hsp70, Caspase 3, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and TUNEL assay expression using immunohistochemistry staining. Statistical test using one-way ANOVA test and Tukey HSD as post hoc test.RESULTS: Mean of positive Hsp70 stained cells in group 1 was 6.82± 2.14, group 2 was 3.91 ± 2.26, and group 3 was 9.64 ± 3.53 with a significant difference of Hsp70 expression distribution within groups (p = 0.0001). Mean of positive caspase 3 stained cells in group 1 was 5.45 ± 2.30, group 2 was 13.82 ± 2.44, and group 3 was 7.03 ± 1.54 with a significantdifference of caspase3 expression distribution within groups (p=0.0001). Mean of positive AIF stained cells in group 1 was 5.36 ± 2.11, group 2 was 12.82 ± 1.40, and group 3 was 8.09 ± 1.81 with a significant difference of AIF expression distribution within groups (p = 0.0001). Mean of positive TUNEL assay stained cells in group 1 was 4.82 ± 2.04, group 2 was 11.55 ± 1.51, and group 3 was 7.64 ± 1.96 with a significant difference of TUNEL test expression distribution within groups (p = 0.0001).CONCLUSION: Propolis may protect brain cell from apoptosis after injury by maintaining Hsp70 expression in addition to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

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PMID: 

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019 Dec 30. Epub 2019 Dec 30. PMID: 31889278

Abstract Title: 

Antiviral effects of Brazilian green and red propolis extracts on Enterovirus surrogates.

Abstract: 

Propolis is a natural product of bees with biological activities that are mainly associated with bee type and geographic origin. Propolis extract has been proposed with several applications in environmental health. The ethanol extracts have shown good antimicrobial activity. The association of this technique with ultrasound-assisted extraction has been studied to improve the characteristics of the obtained extracts. Thus, the objective of this work is to verify the antiviral action against two strains of bacteriophages of two extracts of Brazilian propolis (green and red) obtained by conventional extraction and ultrasonic extraction. The activities of the propolis red and green extracts were confirmed by the significant ~3 and ~4.5 Log 10 PFU/mL reduction in the concentrations of the MS2 and Av-08 bacteriophages, respectively. It was found that ultrasound-assisted extraction is comparable to the maceration process and demonstrated the best antiviral activities. Brazilian red propolis was more effective than green propolis in viral reduction in all treatments.

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PMID: 

J Dent Sci. 2019 Dec ;14(4):339-345. Epub 2019 May 7. PMID: 31890119

Abstract Title: 

Therapeutic effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on alveolar bone loss in rats with endotoxin-induced periodontitis.

Abstract: 

Background/purpose: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is an antioxidant which is decreases the bone resorption and enhances the bone healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of administering systemic CAPE on alveolar bone loss in rats with experimental periodontitis.Materials and methods: Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, endotoxin-induced periodontitis (EP), and EP treated with CAPE (EP-CAPE). Endotoxin was injected into the gingiva of test rats on days 1, 3, and 5, whereas saline was injected into the control rats. The EP-CAPE group received 10 mmol/kg/day CAPE intraperitoneally for 28 consecutive days. Saline was given in the control and EP groups in the same manner. At the end of the study, intracardiac blood samples were obtained, and the rats were sacrificed. Alveolar bone loss was analyzed with histometric measurements. The oxidative stress index (OSI) was used to evaluate the oxidative stress. The receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) level was analyzed stereologically.Results: CAPE administration significantly decreased the serum OSI and interleukin-1β levels. Alveolar bone loss was statistically higher in the EP group compared with the EP-CAPE group ( 

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PMID: 

Public Health Nutr. 2019 Sep 23:1-9. Epub 2019 Sep 23. PMID: 31544736

Abstract Title: 

Green tea and coffee intake and risk of cognitive decline in older adults: the National Institute for Longevity Sciences, Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between green tea and coffee intake and cognitive decline in older adults.DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. The average intake of green tea and coffee in the previous year was assessed through a dietitian interview using a dietary questionnaire. A Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was conducted up to six times biennially. Cognitive decline was screened using the MMSE; its incidence was defined as the first time a score of

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PMID: 

Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2019 ;11:91. Epub 2019 Nov 5. PMID: 31709016

Abstract Title: 

Effects of green coffee extract on fasting blood glucose, insulin concentration and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR): a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies.

Abstract: 

Many studies have investigated the relationship between coffee and diabetes. Evaluation of the current evidence on the effect of coffee intake on diabetes is critical. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential association between green coffee extract (GCE) and fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) by pooling together the results from clinical trials. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched for experimental studies which have been published up to December 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of GCE supplementation on FBG, insulin and HOMA-IR in adults were included for final analysis. A total of six articles were included in the meta-analysis. Results revealed that GCE supplementation reduced FBG level (SMD: -0.32, 95% CI – 0.59 to – 0.05, P = 0.02) but had no effect on insulin levels (SMD: -0.22, 95% CI -0.53 to 0.09, P = 0.159). Although analysis showed that GCE supplementation cannot change the HOMA-IR status (SMD: -0.30, 95% CI -0.73 to 0.13, P = 0.172), after stratified studies by GCE dosage ( 400 mg/day) there was a significant decrease in HOMA-IR status in a dose greater than 400 mg. These findings suggest that GCE intake might be associated with FBG improvement.

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PMID: 

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2020 Jan 3 ;30(1):1-10. Epub 2019 Oct 11. PMID: 31748178

Abstract Title: 

The effects of green coffee bean extract supplementation on lipid profile in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of green coffee bean extract (GCBE) supplementation on lipid profile in adults.METHODS AND RESULTS: The PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of sciences, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials available in English and published before February 2019. The meta-analysis was conducted using fixed effects models, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed by Cochran's Q test and I. A total of 17 effect sizes were included in the meta-analysis. Combined effect sizes on serum total cholesterol concentrations revealed significant effects of GCBE supplementation on serum total cholesterol [weighted mean difference (WMD): -4.51 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval (CI): -6.89, -2.12, p 

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PMID: 

Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2019 Oct 1 ;49(10):972-984. PMID: 31790152

Abstract Title: 

Coffee, green tea and liver cancer risk: an evaluation based on a systematic review of epidemiologic evidence among the Japanese population.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Coffee and green tea, two popular drinks in the Japanese, have recently drawn much attention as potential protective factors against the occurrence of liver cancer.METHODS: We systematically reviewed epidemiologic studies on coffee, green tea and liver cancer among Japanese populations. Original data were obtained by searching the MEDLINE (PubMed) and Ichushi databases, complemented with manual searches. The evaluation was performed in terms of the magnitude of association in each study and the strength of evidence ('convincing', 'probable', 'possible', or 'insufficient'), together with biological plausibility.RESULTS: We identified four cohort and four case-control studies on coffee and liver cancer and six cohort and one case-control studies on green tea and liver cancer. All cohort and case-control studies on coffee reported a weak to strong inverse association, with a summary relative risk (RR) for one cup increase being 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-0.79). Conversely, all studies but two cohort studies on green tea reported no association, with a corresponding summary RR of 0.99 (95% CI 0.97-1.01, P = 0.37).CONCLUSION: Coffee drinking 'probably' decreases the risk of primary liver cancer among the Japanese population whereas the evidence on an association between green tea and liver cancer is 'insufficient' in this population.

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PMID: 

Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 Mar 20 ;8(3). Epub 2019 Mar 20. PMID: 30897746

Abstract Title: 

Strawberry Intake Ameliorates Oxidative Stress and Decreases GABA Levels Induced by High-Fat Diet in Frontal Cortex of Rats.

Abstract: 

It has been proposed that there is a correlation between high-fat diet (HFD), oxidative stress and decreasedγ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, but this has not been thoroughly demonstrated. In the present study, we determined the effects of strawberry extract intake on the oxidative stress and GABA levels in the frontal cortex (FC) of obese rats. We observed that an HFD increased lipid and protein oxidation, and decreased GABA levels. Moreover, UV-irradiated strawberry extract (UViSE) decreased lipid peroxidation but not protein oxidation, whereas non-irradiated strawberry extract (NSE) reduced protein oxidation but not lipid peroxidation. Interestingly, NSE increased GABA concentration, whereas UViSE was not as effective. In conclusion, our results suggest that an HFD increases oxidative damage in the FC, whereas strawberry extract intake may ameliorate the disturbances associated with HFD-induced oxidative damage.

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