LC–MS/MS analysis, antioxidant and anticancer effects of phenolic-rich extracts from Algerian propolis: a comparative study

The present study was aimed to compare the phenolic composition and the functional properties (antioxidant and anticancer) of phenolic-rich extracts of two different propolis collected from Collo (PREPC) and Oum El Bouaghi (PREPO) regions. The phenolic composition was determined using LC/MS–MS. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using alkaline DMSO and β-carotene-linoleic acid tests. Anticancer effect on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells was determined using CCK-8 assay. Twenty-two phenolic compounds in PREPC and twenty-three in PREPO were detected and quantified by LC–MS/MS. Ferulic and caffeic acids were found to be the predominant compounds. Both extracts were able to inhibit lipid peroxidation and demonstrated their ability to scavenge superoxide radicals more effectively than the standards. The highest lipid peroxidation inhibition (IC50 = 17.58 ± 1.98 μg/mL) and superoxide radical scavenging effects (IC50 = 6.19 ± 0.24 μg/mL) were exhibited by PREPO. However, PREPC showed stronger cytotoxic activity against HepG2 (IC50 = 12.22 ± 0.05 µg/mL) than PREPO (IC50 = 18.68 ± 0.33 µg/mL). These results demonstrate the potential of extracts from Algerian propolis to be used in functional formulations.