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UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH SEMINARS
Web: http://events.um.edu.mt/scisem/
Email: [email protected]
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Abstract
In vitro bioactivity of crude Maltese honeybee propolis
Elizabeth Jane Zammit
[email protected]
30th October 2006
(approximately 200-250 words)
Background: Propolis is a complex honeybee product deposited in the beehives, where it is
thought to protect the hive and its occupants from microbial infection. Propolis has several
reported medical applications in view of its antiseptic, antimycotic, antibacterial, antiviral,
antiprotozoal and anti-inflammatory properties.
Aims: The purpose of this study was to analyse the chemical constituents of the methanol
extract of Maltese honeybee propolis, collected from different locations in Malta, and to
investigate the in vitro cytotoxic activity of these extracts against human cancer cell lines.
Methods: Crude Maltese honeybee propolis was first extracted in water and then in
methanol. The final methanol residue was dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and
used for cytotoxicity testing on human cancer cell lines using standard MTT (3-[4,5Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assays. Propolis contents were also
analysed by GC-MS.
Results: Results obtained show that the propolis collected from different areas in Malta has
widely varying cytotoxic activity on cancer cells in vitro; the mode of cell death observed is
morphologically consistent with apoptosis.
Conclusion: Propolis collected from different sites showed variations in the cytotoxic
effects reflecting the differences in the species of plants on which the bees had foraged,
including seasonal variation of flora.