Antioxidant and Anti-cancer Cell Proliferation Activity of Propolis Extracts from Two Extraction Methods

Antioxidant activity, total phenolic, total flavonoid compounds and cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines of propolisextracts from two extraction methods were investigated in this study. Propolis was collected from Phayaoprovince and extracted with 70% ethanol using maceration and sonication techniques. The antioxidant activitywas evaluated by DPPH assay. Total phenolic and flavonoid compounds were also determined. Moreover, thecytotoxicity of propolis was evaluated using MTT assay. The percentage propolis yield after extraction usingmaceration (18.1%) was higher than using sonication (15.7%). Nevertheless, antioxidant and flavonoid compoundsof the sonication propolis extract were significant greater than using maceration. Propolis extract from sonicationshowed antioxidant activity by 3.30±0.15 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract. Total phenolic compound was18.3±3.30 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract and flavonoid compound was 20.49±0.62 mg quercetin/g extract.Additionally, propolis extracts from two extraction methods demonstrated the inhibitory effect on proliferation ofA549 and HeLa cancer cell lines at 24, 48 and 72 hours in a dose-dependent manner. These results are of interestfor the selection of the most appropriate method for preparation of propolis extracts as potential antioxidantand anticancer agents.