A TUMORICIDAL AND ANTIOXIDANT COMPOUND ISOLATED FROM AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF PROPOLIS

Propolis is a glue-like substance which honey bees prepare from plant materials including their own secretions. It has been used as a folk r emedy for treating various ailments, mainly in Europe. An ethanol extr act of propolis has been reported to exhibit a broad spectrum of activ ities including antioxidant and tumour cell arresting properties. Howe ver, little information is available regarding water-extracts of propo lis. We extracted Brazilian propolis with water and isolated from the extract a compound (PRF-1) which was cytotoxic to human hepatocellular carcinoma HuH 13, HeLa and human lung carcinoma HLC-2 cells. Human di ploid foreskin cells were little affected. The compound also showed an tioxidant activity.