Langmuir-Blodgett Monolayers of propolis and phospholipids, saturated and unsaturated phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylcholines,  are examined for antibacterial and anticancer properties.  The Langmuir Monolayer technique allows for the analysis of the organization of amphiphilic molecules at an air-water interface and is; therefore, a useful technique for the formation of model cell membranes.  Propolis is a green-yellow to red-brown resinous material collected by worker bees from various vegetation around the hive and is used to cover the walls of the hive, keep out intruders, and keep out harmful pathogens.  There are different chemical compositions of propolis based on the vegetation at the geological location.  As a result, the biological activity of propolis is related to the plants native to the site of collection.  In general, both propolis types used, American and Brazilian, increased the molecular area thereby breaking apart the bacterial cell membrane lipids. Specifically, the American propolis not only increased the molecular area but also increased the compression modulus indicating that the propolis molecules penetrated the monolayer and interacted with the tail groups of the dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE).

Effects of propolis on cancer cell membranes and bacterial cell membranes studied with Langmuir monolayers

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.