Propolis -bee glue / LC3II Cancer Research Results

PBG, Propolis -bee glue: Click to Expand ⟱
Features: Compound
Brazilian Green Propolis often considered best
• Derived from Baccharis dracunulifolia, this type is rich in artepillin C.
• It has been widely researched for its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
-Propolis common researched flavonoids :chrysin, pinocembrin, galangin, pinobanksin(Pinocembrin)
-most representative phenolic acids were caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid, as well as their derivatives, DMCA and caffeic acid prenyl, benzyl, phenylethyl (CAPE), and cinnamyl esters
-One of the most studied active compounds of a poplar-type propolis is caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)
-caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), galangin, chrysin, nemorosone, propolin G, artepillin C, cardanol, pinocembrin, pinobanksin, chicoric acid, and phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and coumaric acid), as well as luteolin, apigenin, myricetin, naringenin, kaempferol, quercetin, polysaccharides, tannins, terpenes, sterols, and aldehydes -content highly variable based on location and extraction
Two main factors of interest:
1. affects interstitual fluild pH
2. high concentration raises ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), while low concentration may reduce ROS

- Artepillin-C (major phenolic compounds found in Brazilian green propolis (BGP))
- caffeic acid major source

Propolis is chemically diverse (300+ compounds reported) and composition depends on botanical/geographic source.
Antibacterial activity is documented in classic literature (often stronger against Gram+).
CAPE from propolis has reported preferential tumor cytotoxicity in early landmark work (often cited in antimicrobial paper references)

Do not combine with 2DG

Pathways:
-Propolis compounds (e.g., artepillin C, caffeic acid phenethyl ester [CAPE]) can trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells.
-Propolis has been shown to inhibit NF‑κB activation.
-Propolis extracts can cause cell cycle arrest at specific checkpoints (e.g., G0/G1 or G2/M phases).
-Enhance the body’s antitumor immune responses, for example by activating natural killer (NK) cells and modulating cytokine profiles.

-Note half-life no standard, high variablity of content.
BioAv poor water solubility, and low oral bioavailability.
Pathways:
- high concentration may induce ROS production, while low concentrations mya low it. This may apply to both normal and cancer cells. Normal Cells Example. (Also not sure if high level are acheivable in vivo due to bioavailability)
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, UPR↑, GRP78↑, Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓, Prx,
SOD↓, GSH↓ Catalase↓ HO1↓ GPx↓ -->
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, IGF-1↓, uPA↓, VEGF↓, ROCK1↓, FAK↓, RhoA↓, NF-κB↓, TGF-β↓, α-SMA↓, ERK↓
- reactivate genes thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth : HDAC↓, P53↑,
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓, CDK6↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, TNF-α↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓, TOP1↓, TET1,
- inhibits glycolysis /Warburg Effect and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, cMyc↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, PFKs↓, PDKs↓, GRP78↑, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, STAT↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, ERK↓, JNK,
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 ROS / redox stress (context-selective) Often ↑ ROS / oxidative stress susceptibility (P→R→G) Often antioxidant / cytoprotective in inflammatory stress contexts (R→G) P, R, G Stress amplifier / selectivity gate Net ROS direction is highly context- and extract-dependent; propolis chemistry varies by geography/plant source and can shift redox behavior.
2 NF-κB inflammatory transcription ↓ NF-κB activity (R→G) Anti-inflammatory signaling in immune/tissue contexts (R→G) R, G Anti-inflammatory / anti-survival transcription A common “hub” claim across propolis literature; contributes to reduced cytokine/pro-survival programs.
3 Intrinsic apoptosis (mitochondria → caspases) ↑ apoptosis; ↑ caspase activation (G) ↔ (usually less activation) G Cell death execution Often downstream of sustained stress signaling and/or survival pathway suppression.
4 MAPK re-wiring (ERK / p38 / JNK) Stress MAPK shifts; JNK/p38 often ↑ with stress (P→R); ERK variable ↔ / context-dependent P, R, G Signal reprogramming MAPK directions depend on extract composition, dose, and tumor type; best described as “re-wiring” rather than fixed arrows for ERK.
5 PI3K → AKT (± mTOR) ↓ PI3K/AKT survival signaling (R→G) ↔ R, G Growth/survival suppression Often reported alongside reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis susceptibility.
6 Nrf2 / antioxidant response (HO-1, GSH enzymes) Context-dependent (may be ↓ in tumor-stress settings; may be ↑ as adaptation) Often ↑ protective antioxidant response under stress R, G Adaptive buffering Nrf2 direction is not universal; avoid absolute “Nrf2 always ↑/↓” statements for propolis.
7 Angiogenesis (VEGF and related factors) ↓ angiogenic signaling outputs (G) ↔ G Anti-angiogenic support Usually shows up in later gene-expression / phenotype assays rather than early signaling.
8 EMT / invasion / migration (MMPs, EMT markers) ↓ EMT / ↓ migration & invasion programs (G) ↔ G Anti-invasive phenotype Often measured as reduced MMP activity and reduced migration/invasion phenotypes; timing tends to be later.
9 Antimicrobial / microbiome-relevant effects Indirect (may reduce infection-driven inflammation) Direct antimicrobial activity (context) R, G Host-protective / anti-infective Propolis has documented antibacterial activity (stronger vs many Gram+ than Gram− in classic reports), which can matter for inflammation-linked biology.
10 Key bioactives (CAPE; flavonoids/phenolics) CAPE-class compounds: tumor-selective cytotoxicity reported (G) ↔ G “Active fraction” concept Propolis is a mixture; effects may be driven by a few high-impact phenolics (e.g., CAPE) and vary by extract standardization.

Time-Scale Flag (TSF): P / R / G

  • P: 0–30 min (primary/physical–chemical effects; rapid signaling / phosphorylation shifts)
  • R: 30 min–3 hr (redox signaling + acute stress-response signaling)
  • G: >3 hr (gene-regulatory adaptation and phenotype-level outcomes)
LC3II, Microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
LC3II (Microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3, also known as LC3) is a protein that plays a crucial role in the process of autophagy. Autophagy is a cellular process in which cells recycle and remove damaged or dysfunctional components.
LC3II is often used as a marker for autophagy, as its levels increase during autophagic activity.
LC3II is overexpressed in certain types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colon cancer.
LC3II is also known by other names, including:
    MAP1LC3B (Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta)
    LC3B (Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta)
    ATG8F (Autophagy-related protein 8F)
: In many cancers, increased LC3-II expression indicates enhanced autophagy, which can support tumor cell survival, especially under stress conditions (e.g., nutrient deprivation, hypoxia). This is often associated with poor prognosis and treatment resistance.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
1651- CA,  PBG,    Caffeic acid and its derivatives as potential modulators of oncogenic molecular pathways: New hope in the fight against cancer
- Review, Var, NA
Apoptosis↑, TumCCA↓, TumCMig↓, TumMeta↓, ChemoSen↑, eff↑, eff↑, eff↓, eff↝, Dose∅, AMPK↑, p62↓, LC3II↑, Ca+2↑, Bax:Bcl2↑, CDK4↑, CDK6↑, RB1↑, EMT↓, E-cadherin↑, Vim↓, β-catenin/ZEB1↓, NF-kB↓, angioG↑, VEGF↓, TSP-1↑, MMP9↓, MMP2↓, ChemoSen↑, eff↑, ROS↑, CSCs↓, Fas↑, P53↑, BAX↑, Casp↑, β-catenin/ZEB1↓, NDRG1↑, STAT3↓, MAPK↑, ERK↑, eff↑, eff↑, eff↑,
1672- PBG,    The Potential Use of Propolis as an Adjunctive Therapy in Breast Cancers
- Review, BC, NA
ChemoSen↓, RadioS↑, Inflam↓, AntiCan↑, Dose∅, mtDam↑, Apoptosis?, OCR↓, ATP↓, ROS↑, ROS↑, LDH↓, TP53↓, Casp3↓, BAX↓, P21↓, ROS↑, eNOS↑, iNOS↑, eff↑, hTERT/TERT↓, cycD1/CCND1↓, eff↑, eff↑, eff↑, eff↑, STAT3↓, TIMP1↓, IL4↓, IL10↓, OS↑, Dose∅, ER Stress↑, ROS↑, NF-kB↓, p65↓, MMP↓, TumAuto↑, LC3II↑, p62↓, TLR4↓, mtDam↑, LDH↓, ROS↑, Glycolysis↓, HK2↓, PFK↓, PKM2↓, LDH↓, IL10↓, HDAC8↓, eff↑, eff↑, P21↑,
1668- PBG,    Propolis: A Detailed Insight of Its Anticancer Molecular Mechanisms
- Review, Var, NA
antiOx↑, Inflam↓, AntiCan↑, TumCP↓, Apoptosis↑, eff↝, MMPs↓, TNF-α↓, iNOS↓, COX2↓, IL1β↑, *BioAv↓, BAX↑, Casp3↑, Cyt‑c↑, Bcl-2↓, eff↑, selectivity↑, P53↑, ROS↑, Casp↑, eff↑, ERK↓, Dose∅, TRAIL↑, NF-kB↑, ROS↑, Dose↑, MMP↓, DNAdam↑, TumAuto↑, LC3II↑, p62↓, EGF↓, Hif1a↓, VEGF↓, TLR4↓, GSK‐3β↓, NF-kB↓, Telomerase↓, ChemoSen↑, ChemoSideEff↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 3 of 3

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,   ROS↑, 8,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

ATP↓, 1,   EGF↓, 1,   MMP↓, 2,   mtDam↑, 2,   OCR↓, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

AMPK↑, 1,   Glycolysis↓, 1,   HK2↓, 1,   LDH↓, 3,   PFK↓, 1,   PKM2↓, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Apoptosis?, 1,   Apoptosis↑, 2,   BAX↓, 1,   BAX↑, 2,   Bax:Bcl2↑, 1,   Bcl-2↓, 1,   Casp↑, 2,   Casp3↓, 1,   Casp3↑, 1,   Cyt‑c↑, 1,   Fas↑, 1,   hTERT/TERT↓, 1,   iNOS↓, 1,   iNOS↑, 1,   MAPK↑, 1,   Telomerase↓, 1,   TRAIL↑, 1,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress ⓘ

ER Stress↑, 1,  

Autophagy & Lysosomes ⓘ

LC3II↑, 3,   p62↓, 3,   TumAuto↑, 2,  

DNA Damage & Repair ⓘ

DNAdam↑, 1,   P53↑, 2,   TP53↓, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

CDK4↑, 1,   cycD1/CCND1↓, 1,   P21↓, 1,   P21↑, 1,   RB1↑, 1,   TumCCA↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

CSCs↓, 1,   EMT↓, 1,   ERK↓, 1,   ERK↑, 1,   GSK‐3β↓, 1,   HDAC8↓, 1,   STAT3↓, 2,  

Migration ⓘ

Ca+2↑, 1,   E-cadherin↑, 1,   MMP2↓, 1,   MMP9↓, 1,   MMPs↓, 1,   TIMP1↓, 1,   TSP-1↑, 1,   TumCMig↓, 1,   TumCP↓, 1,   TumMeta↓, 1,   Vim↓, 1,   β-catenin/ZEB1↓, 2,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

angioG↑, 1,   eNOS↑, 1,   Hif1a↓, 1,   VEGF↓, 2,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

COX2↓, 1,   IL10↓, 2,   IL1β↑, 1,   IL4↓, 1,   Inflam↓, 2,   NF-kB↓, 3,   NF-kB↑, 1,   p65↓, 1,   TLR4↓, 2,   TNF-α↓, 1,  

Hormonal & Nuclear Receptors ⓘ

CDK6↑, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

ChemoSen↓, 1,   ChemoSen↑, 3,   Dose↑, 1,   Dose∅, 4,   eff↓, 1,   eff↑, 15,   eff↝, 2,   RadioS↑, 1,   selectivity↑, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

hTERT/TERT↓, 1,   LDH↓, 3,   TP53↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

AntiCan↑, 2,   ChemoSideEff↓, 1,   NDRG1↑, 1,   OS↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 93

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

BioAv↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 1

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: LC3II, Microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3
3 Propolis -bee glue
1 Caffeic acid
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:137  Target#:721  State#:%  Dir#:%
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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