Plant Origin Authentication of Sonoran Propolis and its Antiproliferative Effect on Cancer Cells: A Bioactive Poplar Type Propolis from Semi-arid Zones

The main chemical composition of Sonoran propolis (SP), as well as its antiproliferative activity on cancer cells via apoptosis induction has been reported 1 . Additionally, the chemical constitution of SP remained qualitatively similar throughout the year, whereas the antiproliferative effect exhibited significant differences amongst seasonal samples 2 . The goal of this study was to authenticate the botanical source of SP bioactivity by using an approach based on a chemical comparative analysis, antiproliferative activity and cell cycle progression analysis on cancer cell lines. The polyphenolic profile of SP throughout the year resulted to be qualitatively similar to that of Populus fremontii resins (PFR). However, the antiproliferative activity of PFR did not consistently match that exhibited by SP. In addition, SP induced evident morphological modifications (elongation) on treated cells, different to those induced by PFR. Most of cancer cells treated with SP were arrested in G 2 /M checkpoint (M12.C3.F6: 94.8±1.7 %, and HeLa cells: 70.8±5.7 %), similarly as colchicine did (control drug; 2 µM; 94.8±2.3 % and 72.7±6.4 %, respectively). In contrast, PFR treatment increased cell population at G 0 /G 1 on both M12.C3.F6 (56.9±5.0 %) and HeLa cells (70.3±0.3 %), in comparison with dissolvent control. Interestingly, Ambrosia confertiflora resins induced morphological elongation and cell cycle arrest at G 2 /M on both M12.C3.F6 and HeLa cells, similarly as SP did. These results suggest that P. fremontii is the main plant origin of SP, nevertheless, A. confertiflora resins participate as a complementary source that enhances its bioactivity. Therefore, SP is a poplar-type propolis from subtropical semi-arid zones.