Component in Brazilian Green Propolis Reduces DNA Damage

Recent article, published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, revealed new remarkable ability of Artepillin C - the main component of  Brazilian Green propolis. Scientists concluded that Artepillin C prevents the DNA damage induced by chemicals. The exciting news one more time illustrates that Brazilian Green Propolis is indeed the most efficient natural medicine ever discovered.

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Antigenotoxicity of Artepillin C in vivo Evaluated by the Micronucleus and Comet Assays

de Azevedo Bentes Monteiro Neto, M., de Souza Lima, I. M., Furtado, R. A., Bastos, J. K., da Silva Filho, A. A. and Tavares, D. C. , Antigenotoxicity of artepillin C in vivo evaluated by the micronucleus and comet assays. Journal of Applied Toxicology, n/a. doi: 10.1002/jat.1614

ABSTRACT

Artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-p-coumaric acid), a major compound found in Brazilian green propolis and Baccharis dracunculifolia, shows anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and antitumoral activities, among others.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of artepillin C and its ability to prevent the chemically induced chromosome breakage or loss and the primary DNA damage using the micronucleus and comet assays in male Swiss mice, respectively.

The animals were treated by gavage with different doses of artepillin C (0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg kg(-1) b.w.). For the antigenotoxicity assays, the different doses of artepillin C were administered simultaneously to doxorubicin (DXR; micronucleus test; 15 mg kg(-1) b.w.) and to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS; comet assay; 40 mg kg(-1) b.w.).

The results showed that artepillin C itself was not genotoxic in the mouse micronucleus and comet assays. In the animals treated with artepillin C and DXR, the number of micronucleated reticulocytes was significantly lower in comparison with the animals treated only with DXR.

Regarding antigenotoxicity, artepillin C at the tested doses significantly reduced the extent of DNA damage in liver cells induced by MMS.