Comparative evaluation of antiproliferative effects of Brazilian green propolis, its main source Baccharis dracunculifolia, and their major constituents artepillin C and baccharin.

This study evaluated the antiproliferative activity of the Brazilian green propolis and Baccharis dracunculifolia extracts and their major compounds artepillin C and baccharin in different tumor cell lines. The lowest IC50 values observed for Brazilian green propolis and B. dracunculifolia extracts were 41.0 ± 4.5 µg/mL for U343 and 44.9 ± 7.1 µg/mL for HepG2, respectively. Regarding artepillin C and baccharin, the lowest IC50 values were 20.1 ± 2.9 for U343 and 13.0 ± 1.5 µg/mL for B16F10, respectively. For the association of artepillin C plus baccharin, the lowest IC50 result was 35.2 ± 0.5 µg/mL for B16F10. Artepillin C and baccharin were more cytotoxic than both Brazilian green propolis and B. dracunculifolia extracts. No additive or synergistic effect was observed for the association of artepillin C plus baccharin.