Algerian Propolis from Distinct Geographical Locations: Chemical Profiles, Antioxidant Capacity, Cytotoxicity and...

Propolis was collected from honeybee hives in three geographically distinct Algerian climates and extracts were characterized for composition and bioactivity. Bees were identified as native subspecies using an in-silico DraI mtDNA COI-COII test. Over 20 compounds were identified in extracts by LC-MS. Extracts from the Medea region were more enriched in phenolic content (302±28 mg GAE/g of dry extract) than those from Annaba and Ghardaia regions. Annaba extracts had the highest flavonoid content (1870±385 mg QCE/g of dry extract). Medea extracts presented the highest free-radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀=13.5 μg/mL) using the DPPH radical assay while Ghardaia extracts from the desert region were weak (IC₅₀>100 μg/mL). Antioxidant activities measured using AAPH oxidation of linoleic acid were similar in all extracts with IC₅₀ values ranging from 2.9 to 4.9 μg/mL. All extracts were cytotoxic (MTT assay) and proapoptotic (Annexin-V) against human leukemia cell lines in the low μg/mL range, although the Annaba extract was less active against the Reh cell line. Extracts inhibited cellular 5-lipoxygenase product biosynthesis with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.6 to 3.2 μg/mL. Overall, examined propolis extracts exhibited significant biological activity that warrant further characterization in cellular and in vivo models.