Interaction of Artepillin C with Model Membranes: Optical Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopy Studies

Year 2018, Volume: 1 Issue: 3 - 2nd Propolis Conference Special Issue, 25 - 25, 08.12.2018

İsamara Julia Camurı Adriano Batista Costa Wallance Moreira Pazın Amando Siuiti Ito

Abstract

Brazilian green propolis, collected by the
species Apis mellifera, presents antioxidant, antimicrobial,
anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. The major component of green
propolis is Artepillin C, a derivative of cinnamic acid with two prenylated
groups, that improves the affinity of the compound for lipophilic environment.
This may be relevant to the biological activity of green propolis in the
cellular environment, in view of the initial contact of the product with the
cell membrane. We used optical absorption and fluorescence techniques to study
physico-chemical properties of the interaction between Artepillin C and
amphiphilic aggregates commonly used as membrane models, namely, micelles and
unilamellar vesicles. We examined the interaction of Artepillin C with anionic,
cationic and zwitterionic micelles, and with large unilamellar vesicles of
neutral and negatively charged phospholipids and positively charged lipid.
Optical absorption spectra showed that the protonation state of Artepillin C is
dictated by the local pH in the surface of micelles and vesicles. Fluorescence
results showed that the polarity around Artepillin C decreased in the presence
of micelles and vesicles, and the molecule should be located on the surface
region of the model membranes. The negative charge of the compound in
deprotonated state favors the interaction with cationic micelles and neutral
vesicles. The effects are more prominent when the lipid micelles are in the
fluid phase.

 

Acknowledgments: CAPES, CNPq (305771/2016-7)
and FAPESP (2016/09633-4)

Keywords

Brazilian green propolis, Artepillin C

References

• 1. Pazin, W. M. et al. (2017) Interaction of Artepillin C with model membranes. Eur. Biophys. J. 46: 383–393.
• 2. Pazin, W.M. et al (2017) Antioxidant activities of three honeybee stingless propolis and green propolis. Journal of Apicultural Research, 56: 40-49.
• 3. Camuri, I.J. et al (2018) Optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy studies of Artepillin C, the major component of green propolis. Spectroch. Acta A 198: 71-77.