Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer

Elif İnce Erguc; Damla Kırcı; Miray Çetin; Deniz Özalp; Nuray Topel; Meryem Yazıcı

doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001

TR EN

Propolis ve Doğal Bileşiklerin Meme Kanserindeki Sinerjik Antikanser Aktivitesi

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, propolisin resveratrol, kurkumin ve berberin ile kombinasyonlarının östrojen reseptörü pozitif (MCF-7) ve üçlü negatif (MDA-MB-231) insan meme kanseri hücrelerindeki in vitro antikanser potansiyeli araştırılmıştır. Bu fitokimyasallar ve propolis, kanıtlanmış çok hedefli antikanser mekanizmaları, görece düşük toksisiteleri ve kombinasyon hâlinde kullanıldıklarında tedavi etkinliğini artırma potansiyelleri nedeniyle seçilmiştir. Hücreler, propolis (MCF-7 hücrelerinde 25 μg mL⁻¹; MDA-MB-231 hücrelerinde 25 veya 50 μg mL⁻¹) ile tek başına veya resveratrol, kurkumin ya da berberin ile kombinasyon hâlinde 48 saat boyunca muamele edilmiştir. Bileşikler arasındaki etkileşimler, CompuSyn yazılımında uygulanan Chou–Talalay kombinasyon indeksi (CI) yöntemi kullanılarak nicel olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Propolis, doza bağımlı sitotoksisite göstermiş ve test edilen tüm bileşiklerin etkilerini her iki hücre hattında da anlamlı düzeyde artırmıştır. MCF-7 hücrelerinde propolisin resveratrol (CI: 0,64–0,69) ve berberin (CI: 0,58–0,83) ile kombinasyonları güçlü sinerjizm sergilerken, kurkumin kombinasyonları ağırlıklı olarak aditif etki göstermiştir (CI: 0,92–0,96). MDA-MB-231 hücrelerinde resveratrol (CI: 0,82–0,89) ve berberin (CI: 0,81–0,89) kombinasyonlarında sinerjistik etkileşimler gözlenmiştir. Özellikle kurkumin, üçlü negatif hücrelerde yüksek fraksiyonel etki düzeylerinde belirgin sinerjizm göstermiştir (CI: 0,70). Bu bulgular, propolisin resveratrol, kurkumin ve berberinin sitotoksik aktivitesini meme kanseri alt tipine özgü biçimde artırdığını göstermektedir. Sonuçlar, rasyonel olarak tasarlanan doğal ürün kombinasyonlarının meme kanserinde tamamlayıcı tedavi stratejileri olarak potansiyelini desteklemektedir.

Keywords

Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer

Abstract

This study investigated the in vitro anticancer potential of propolis in combination with resveratrol, curcumin, and berberine against ER-positive (MCF-7) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cells. These specific phytochemicals and propolis were selected due to their proven multitarget anticancer mechanisms, relatively low toxicity, and ability to enhance treatment efficacy when used in combination. Cells were treated with propolis (25 μg mL⁻¹ in MCF-7 cells; 25 or 50 μg mL⁻¹ in MDA-MB-231 cells) alone or in combination with resveratrol, curcumin, or berberine for 48 h. Drug interactions were quantitatively evaluated using the Chou–Talalay combination index (CI) method implemented in CompuSyn software. Propolis displayed dose-dependent cytotoxicity and significantly strengthened the effects of all tested compounds in both cell lines. In MCF-7 cells, propolis combined with resveratrol (CI: 0.64–0.69) and berberine (CI: 0.58–0.83) exhibited strong synergism, while curcumin combinations were primarily additive (CI: 0.92–0.96). In MDA-MB-231 cells, synergistic profiles were observed for resveratrol (CI: 0.82–0.89) and berberine (CI: 0.81–0.89). Notably, curcumin reached significant synergism (CI: 0.70) at high fractional effect levels in triple-negative cells. These findings demonstrate that propolis enhances the cytotoxic activity of resveratrol, curcumin, and berberine in a subtype-specific manner. The results support the potential of rational natural product combinations as complementary therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Elif İnce Erguc ^*
0000-0003-0764-7694
Türkiye

Damla Kırcı
0000-0002-3479-3999
Türkiye

Miray Çetin
0009-0008-4618-0568
Türkiye

Deniz Özalp
0009-0009-2941-4382
Türkiye

Nuray Topel
0009-0000-9010-509X
Türkiye

Meryem Yazıcı
0009-0003-5712-4565
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

November 7, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

February 22, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA87GT36BR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

İnce Erguc, E., Kırcı, D., Çetin, M., Özalp, D., Topel, N., & Yazıcı, M. (2026). Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001

AMA

1.İnce Erguc E, Kırcı D, Çetin M, Özalp D, Topel N, Yazıcı M. Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer. KSU J. Agric Nat. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001

Chicago

İnce Erguc, Elif, Damla Kırcı, Miray Çetin, Deniz Özalp, Nuray Topel, and Meryem Yazıcı. 2026. “Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer”. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001.

EndNote

İnce Erguc E, Kırcı D, Çetin M, Özalp D, Topel N, Yazıcı M (November 7, 2026) Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi Advanced Online Publication

IEEE

[1]E. İnce Erguc, D. Kırcı, M. Çetin, D. Özalp, N. Topel, and M. Yazıcı, “Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer”, KSU J. Agric Nat., no. Advanced Online Publication, Nov. 2026, doi: 10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001.

ISNAD

İnce Erguc, Elif - Kırcı, Damla - Çetin, Miray - Özalp, Deniz - Topel, Nuray - Yazıcı, Meryem. “Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer”. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi. Advanced Online Publication (November 7, 2026). https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001.

JAMA

1.İnce Erguc E, Kırcı D, Çetin M, Özalp D, Topel N, Yazıcı M. Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer. KSU J. Agric Nat. 2026. doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001.

MLA

İnce Erguc, Elif, et al. “Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer”. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication, Nov. 2026, doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001.

Vancouver

1.Elif İnce Erguc, Damla Kırcı, Miray Çetin, Deniz Özalp, Nuray Topel, Meryem Yazıcı. Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Propolis and Natural Compounds in Breast Cancer. KSU J. Agric Nat. 2026 Nov. 7;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1894001