Cytotoxic effects of water and ethanolic extracts of Turkish propolis on human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma cell lines

Abstract

Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by bees from various types of trees and plants and has antibacterial, antiviral and antitumoral features depending on its antioxidant properties. Major aim is to investigate cytotoxic effect of Turkish propolis on human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma (HEp-2) cells. HEp-2 cells/well were loaded on RTCA(real time cell analysis) system and the cell index was followed up during 48 hours. Water extract of Turkish propolis (WEP) of 250-10.000 μg/mL concentrations and ethanolic extracts of Turkish propolis (EEP) of 10-2.400 μg/mL concentrations were treated with HEp-2 cells and followed by RTCA system. The cell indexes and IC50 values were determined. HEp-2 cells were incubated with WEP and EEP. Proliferation was followed by flow cytometric DNA cycle analysis. WEP and EEP were found to be cytotoxic to HEp-2 cells. When WEP and EEP were incubated with HEp-2 cells during 72 hours, the highest antiproliferative effect was seen by interfering DNA cycles. Turkish propolis extracts were found to be cytotoxic and antiproliferative to HEp- 2 cells in the present study, therefore, it was concluded that it may fall within chemotherapy or target therapies for larynx cancers.