Propolis is a honeybee product with a broad spectrum of biological properties, such
as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumor. Polyphenolic derivatives
(PPDV) are major constituents of propolis contributing to the broad biological activities.
Chronic high blood pressure may result in heart disease. Oxidative stress is the disturbance
of the redox homeostasis and produces excessive levels of reactive oxygen species,
which plays a central role on hypertension-induced heart failure. We examined the
effect of PPDV on hypertension-induced heart disease. Mice were infused with angiotensin
II (Ang II) to induce hypertension, leading to heart failure. In the treated group,
PPDV was treated in mice daily with Ang II administration. After 14 days of Ang II
infusion, cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis were found in mice. PPDV treatment attenuated
Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. In addition, PPDV inhibited Ang II-induced
α-SMA (a fibrotic marker) and NADPH oxidase (an enzyme produced superoxide) expression.
These all contributed to the improvement of cardiac function of PPDV. Our results
provide new insights regarding the cardioprotective effects of PPDV, which provides
an efficient therapeutic strategy to attenuate heart disease.
