Evaluation of Anticancer and Antioxidant Activities of Propolis, Pollen and Probiotic Bacteria as Functional Food Ingredients

Abstract

Apiculture products and probiotic exhibits valuable pharmacological and functional properties. Our aim of this study was combining propolis, pollen and probiotic as a natural, nutritive and functional ingredients in order to capitalize most of their desired health benefits. So the present study was firstly planned to determine the chemical composition of propolis and pollen extracted by different ethanol/water ratio (100% ethanol, 70% ethanol/water and 100% water). The second step was evaluating the pharmaceutical activity of the prepared extracts of propolis and pollen or their mixture (antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activity). The third objective was exploring the effect of addition of propolis, pollen extracts or their mixtures on the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the tested lactic acid bacterial strains. The final objective was selecting the best bee product extracts and lactic acid bacterial strains, in order to be used in manufacturing of stirred biofermented milk fortified with chosen bee product extracts.