Brazilian Green Propolis Inhibits Ox-LDL-Stimulated Oxidative Stress in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Partly through PI3KAktmTOR-Mediated Nrf2HO-1 Pathway

Abstract EN

Propolis has been widely used as a dietary supplement for its health benefits, including cardiovascular protective effects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytoprotective effects of Brazilian green propolis (BP) against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) damage.

Our results suggested that treatment with BP rescued Ox-LDL-stimulated HUVECs cell viability losses, which might be associated with its inhibitive effects on the cell apoptosis and autophagy.

We also noticed that BP restored Ox-LDL-stimulated HUVECs oxidative stress, by induced antioxidant gene expressions, including Heme oxygenase-1 and its upstream mediator, Nrf2, which were mediated by the activation of the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR.

Pretreatment with wortmannin, PI3K/AKT inhibitor, abolished BP induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and HO-1 level.

Our results demonstrated that BP protected HUVECs against oxidative damage partly via PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated Nrf/HO-1 pathway, which might be applied into preventing Ox-LDL mediated cardiovascular diseases.