Resumen de Algerian ethanolic extract of Propolis and galangin decreased melanoma tumour progression in C57BL6 mice
L. Benguedouar, M. Lahouel, S. Gangloff, A. Durlach, F. Grange, P. Bernard, F. Antonicelli
Melanoma the more dangerous skin cancer and metastatic melanoma still carries poor prognosis. Despite recent therapeutic advances, prolonged survival remains rare and research is still required. Propolis extracts from many countries have attracted a great deal of attention for their biological properties. We have investigated the ability of an ethanolic extract of Algerian Propolis (EEP) to control melanoma tumour growth when given as either preventive or therapeutic to mice bearing B16F1melanoma tumour. EEP given after tumour occurrence increased mice survival (+30%) and reduced tumour growth (–75%), further confirmed by measuring the Mitotic Index (–75%) and Ki-67 (–50%) expression. EEP given before or before and after tumour occurrence also reduced tumour growth, but without prolonging mice life. Isolation of B16F1 melanoma cells from resected tumour showed that preventive and curative EEP treatments reduced invasiveness by 55% and 40%, respectively compared to control. Galangin, one of the most abundant flavonoids in propolis, significantly reduced melanoma cell proliferation and induced autophagy/apoptosis dose dependently. In conclusion, we showed that EEP reduced melanoma tumour progression/dissemination and extended mice life span. This complementary therapy to classical treatment may help patients with melanoma, when used under certain conditions for which autophagy is not contraindicated.
