The effect of propolis extract on bax/bcl2 genes expression in adenocarcinoma gastric cancer cells

Masoome Dastvar,1,* Neda shoaei,2 Dr.zahra deilami,3

1. Msc student ,Department of Genetic , Basic Science Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan,Iran.
2. Msc student ,Department of Genetic , Basic Science Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan,Iran.
3. Assistant professor , Department of Genetic , Basic Science Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan,Iran.

Abstract

Introduction

Propolis extract is a natural product that has been made from various resins collected by the bee and used for centuries as an ethnic herbal remedy. it is known that wax has antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. the bax protein is a functional antagonist and is a structural homologous bcl-2which can be accelerated to apoptotic bax complex to death signaling, but in response to bcl-2 elevation and its heterodiagnosis with bax, cell death is suppressed. therefore, the expression ratio of bax to bcl-2 determines the occurrence or absence of apoptosis. in this research we have studied the effect of propolis extract on bax/bcl2 gene expression ratio in adenocarcinoma gastric cancer cells.

Methods

The ags cells were incubated 37°c containing 5% co2 with 85% humidity, dmem with 10% fbs. the cells were treated with concentrations of 800, 1200, 2000 μg /ml of propolis extract for 48 hours. rna extractin and synthesis of cdna have been done using special kits. the study of bcl-2/bax genes expression was performed by real time pcr .

Results

Analysis of results have shown that in all studied concentrations of propolis extract, there are significant increase in bax/bcl2 expression in ags cell line. increase in bax/bcl2 ratio in cells leads them to apoptosis.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicated that propolis extract has strong antiproliferative effects against cancerous ags cells. thus, propolis may provide a novel approach to the chemoprevention and treatment of human gastric cancer

Keywords

Bcl-2/bax, ags cells, propolis