Mexican Propolis Active Against Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Study on the Constituents of Mexican Propolis and Their Cytotoxic Activity against PANC-1 Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells J. Nat. Prod, March 22, 2010

Three new flavonoids, (2R,3R)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone 3-(2-methyl)butyrate (1), (7′′R)-8-[1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-yl]chrysin (2), and (7′′R)-8-[1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-yl]galangin (3), together with 41 known compounds (4−44) were isolated from a methanolic extract of Mexican propolis.

Compounds 2 and 3 are unique natural flavones containing a 1-phenylallyl moiety. The in vitro preferential cytotoxicity of all the isolates was evaluated against a PANC-1 human pancreatic cell line.

Compound 3 displayed the most potent preferential cytotoxicity (PC50 4.6 μM) in the nutrient-deprived medium (NDM) and triggered apoptosis-like morphological changes in PANC-1 cells.