Cancer is the second most life-threatening disease and has become a global health and economic problem worldwide. Due to the multifactorial nature of
cancer, its pathophysiology is not completely understood so far, which makes it hard to treat. The current therapeutic strategies for
cancer lack the efficacy due to the emergence of drug resistance and the toxic side effects associated with the treatment. Therefore, the search for more efficient and less toxic
cancer treatment strategies is still at the forefront of current research.
Propolis is a mixture of resinous compounds containing
beeswax and partially digested exudates from plants leaves and buds. Its chemical composition varies widely depending on the bee species, geographic location, plant species, and weather conditions. Since ancient times,
propolis has been used in many conditions and aliments for its healing properties.
Propolis has well-known therapeutic actions including antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. In recent years, extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that
propolis possesses properties against several types of
cancers. The present review highlights the recent progress made on the molecular targets and signaling pathways involved in the anticancer activities of
propolis.
Propolis exerts anticancer effects primarily by inhibiting
cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis through regulating various signaling pathways and arresting the
tumor cell cycle, inducing autophagy, epigenetic modulations, and further inhibiting the invasion and
metastasis of
tumors.
Propolis targets numerous signaling pathways associated with
cancer therapy, including pathways mediated by p53, β-
catenin, ERK1/2, MAPK, and NF-κB. Possible synergistic actions of a combination
therapy of
propolis with existing
chemotherapies are also discussed in this review. Overall,
propolis, by acting on diverse mechanisms simultaneously, can be considered to be a promising, multi-targeting, multi-pathways
anticancer agent for the treatment of various types of
cancers.