Chapter Two - Propolis flavonoids and terpenes, and their interactions with model lipid membranes: a review

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Abstract

Propolis is a complex mixture of different biologically active compounds. Among these, phenols (especially flavonoids) and terpenes are the most important and abundant. As these compounds are gaining attention in development of suppressors of cancer and microbial disease, studies of their interactions with lipid membranes are becoming more and more relevant. In this article, the interactions of most of the important compounds from propolis (phenols: mostly flavonoids, and terpenes) with different kinds of model membranes are reviewed. Knowledge from these studies can be used for further development of new cancer suppressors and anti-microbial drugs, as well as for many more uses.

Section snippets

List of abbreviations

    DODAB

    Dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide

    DOPC

    Dioleoylphosphatidylcholine

    DOPE

    Dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine

    DPPC

    Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine

    DPPE

    Dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine

    DPPG

    Dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol

    DPPS

    Dipalmitoylphosphatidylserine

    POPC

    1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine

    POPE

    1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylethanolamine

    POPS

    1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylserine

    SOPS

    1-stearoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylserine

Propolis definition, its history and its characteristics

Propolis, or “bee glue”, is a sticky, hydrophilic, gummy and resinous material that is produced by different species of bees, including honeybees (Apis spp.) and stingless bees (Melipona spp.). Its name derives from the Hellenistic Ancient Greek meaning “suburb/bee glue” or “defense of the city”, depending on the interpretation. Bees use it to seal cracks in their hives, to smooth the internal walls, and to protect the hive against intruders. Propolis also acts as a natural antibiotic, to

Artificial lipid membranes

The basic structural unit of biological membranes is the lipid bilayer. Lipid bilayers are sheet-like assemblies of countless amphiphilic lipid molecules where their structural arrangement is held together by hydrophobic interactions. These lipid bilayers form the boundary between the inner and outer cellular environments, as the plasma membrane, which effectively defines the cell; within the cell, lipid bilayers also define the intracellular organelles [10]. The plasma membrane contains lipids

Conclusions

Flavonoids and terpenes are the most biologically important constituents of propolis, and because of their broad spectrum of activities, they have been well studied. Most of these form strong interactions with different types of membranes, from artificial membranes composed of lipids with unsaturated and saturated chains, to cell ghosts, organelle membranes, and bacterial and fungal cells. In general, the flavonoids and terpenes fluidify membranes with saturated chains and membranes with lipids

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