Submitted to: Chemistry and Biodiversity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/19/2024
Publication Date: 1/19/2024
Citation: Ayad, A., Hebert, M., Doiron, J., Loucif-Ayad, W., Daas, T., Smagghe, G., Alburaki, M., Barnett, D., Touaibia, M., Surette, M. 2024. Algerian propolis from distinct geographical locations: chemical profiles, antioxidant capacity, cytotoxicity and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase product biosynthesis. Chemistry and Biodiversity. 10:1-28 Article e202301758. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202301758.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202301758

Interpretive Summary: The objectives of this study were first to evaluate the genetic status of the honey bee populations located in the three current queen breeding stations in Algeria, and to evaluate the composition and antioxidant properties of extracts of the propolis collected from the two native Algerian honey bee subspecies within the breeding stations located in distinct geographical locations having diverse climates. Additional objectives were to test the pro-apoptototic and anti-proliferative activities of the propolis extracts against human acute lymphocytic leukemia cell lines, as well as the potential anti-inflammatory proprieties of the propolis extracts in an established cellular 5-lipoxygenase assay.

Technical Abstract: Propolis was collected from honeybee hives in three geographically distinct Algerian climates and extracts were characterized for composition and bioactivity. Bees were identified as native subspecies using an in-silico DraI mtDNA COI-COII test. Over 20 compounds were identified in extracts by LC-MS. Extracts from the Medea region were more enriched in phenolic content (302 Å} 28 mg GAE/g of dry extract) than those from Annaba and Ghardaia regions. Annaba extracts had the highest flavonoid content (1870 Å} 385 mg QCE/g of dry extract). Medea extracts presented the highest free-radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 13.5 µg/mL) using the DPPH radical assay while Ghardaia extracts from the desert region were weak (IC50 > 100 µg/mL). Antioxidant activities measured using AAPH oxidation of linoleic acid were similar in all extracts with IC50 values ranging from 2.9 to 4.9 µg/mL. All extracts were cytotoxic (MTT assay) and proapoptotic (Annexin-V) against human leukemia cell lines in the low µg/mL range, although the Annaba extract was less active against the Reh cell line. Extracts inhibited cellular 5-lipoxygenase product biosynthesis with IC50 values ranging from 0.6 to 3.2 µg/ml. Overall, examined propolis extracts exhibited significant biological activity that warrant further characterization in cellular and in vivo models.