Redox homeostasis in the human body is strictly regulated by reducing molecules, such as glutathione, as well as various antioxidant enzymes. A correlation between oxidative stress damage and the majority of diseases has already been shown. Therefore, studying the antioxidant effects of natural products with prominent antioxidative properties is necessary for the prevention and treatment of various pathological conditions. RJ is a bee product known for its abundance in bioactive substances and its function as a very potent regulator of many metabolic processes. It is also considered a medicinal agent that can cope with oxidative stress. Being easy to access and produce, and due to its great antioxidant properties, RJ has become an ideal option for helping oncological patients that undergo chemotherapy, which can induce severe levels of oxidative stress in body.
This study aimed to evaluate RJ’s ability to scavenge reactive species and modulate the GSTP1 marker in healthy cells in order to offer a scientific basis for the further development and use of this natural bee product.
Healthy lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cell line) were treated with RJ at a concentration of 100 μg/mL, and after 24 h, the level of O₂˙ˉ superoxide anion radicals was assessed by an NBT test, while the gene expression of the GSTP1 marker was analyzed by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method.
This natural bee product reduced the concentration of O₂˙ˉ in the tested cells within 24 h of treatment, and this antioxidative effect was most likely due to upregulated GSTP1 expression. The protein product of the GSTP1 gene is responsible for the catalyzation of glutathione (GSH) binding to oxidative stress metabolites, such as superoxide anion radicals, and their further neutralization in cells.
We found that RJ has an important protective effect against the oxidative damage of human lung fibroblast cells, and its properties can be used to explore new resources for pharmacological treatments, as well as to improve natural medicine.
