Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42738730›Full record

ArticleMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Comparative Phytochemical Characterization of Turkish Propolis Extracts and Their Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Activities.

Serhat Karabıcak, Oktay Bıyıklıoğlu, Şeymanur Aktaş, Derya Keleşoğlu Kalemkaş, Demet Erdağ, Tarık Mecit, Selin Çeter, Idris Yazgan, Talip Çeter

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Serhat KarabıcakDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu 37150, Türkiye.ORCID 0009-0004-7404-6471
Oktay BıyıklıoğluDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu 37150, Türkiye.ORCID 0000-0003-4238-931X
Şeymanur AktaşDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu 37150, Türkiye.ORCID 0009-0008-9312-6783
Derya Keleşoğlu KalemkaşDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu 37150, Türkiye.ORCID 0009-0007-3675-4794
Demet ErdağDepartment of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Bilecik Seyh Edebali University, Bilecik 11100, Türkiye.
Tarık MecitDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Biruni University, İstanbul 34025, Türkiye.ORCID 0000-0002-3816-134X
Selin ÇeterDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu 37150, Türkiye.ORCID 0000-0003-4379-7411
Idris YazganDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu 37150, Türkiye.ORCID 0000-0002-0264-1253
Talip ÇeterDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu 37150, Türkiye.ORCID 0000-0003-3626-1758

Funding

Kastamonu University KÜBAP-01/2023-10Kastamonu University KÜİHT/2023-10
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Geographical and botanical origin dominate the chemical composition and biological activity of propolis samples. In this study, thirty Turkish propolis samples collected from different regions within the Black Sea region were comprehensively evaluated to investigate the relationships between phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, antibacterial activity, and anticancer potential. The propolis samples were extracted using 70% aqueous ethanol and labeled as K1-K30. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and DPPH radical scavenging activity were determined. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains using inhibition zone (ZI), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests. Most of the extracts showed measurable antibacterial activity, where Gram-positive bacteria generally showed higher susceptibility compared to the tested Gram-negative bacterial species. The extracts K12, K13, K22, K24, and K28 demonstrated the strongest broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that antibacterial efficacy was more strongly associated with antioxidant capacity and flavonoid richness than with total phenolic content alone. FRAP and TFC emerged as the strongest predictors of antibacterial activity, while specific phenolic compounds (particularly quercetin and trans ferulic acid) were associated with enhanced activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Preliminary anticancer activity was assessed using cell viability assays at 24, 48, and 72 h. Cytotoxic responses were highly heterogeneous and strongly time-dependent. K10, among the extracts, exhibited the strongest anticancer activity, showing inhibition rates above 80% at 24 and 48 h, whereas K4 and K23 also demonstrated considerable cytotoxic effects. Notably, antibacterial and anticancer activities were not directly correlated. Extracts with strong antibacterial activity, such as K12 and K22, showed proliferative effects in anticancer assays, whereas K10 displayed weak antibacterial but strong anticancer activity. These findings demonstrate that antibacterial and anticancer properties of propolis are governed by distinct phytochemical compositions. Overall, this study highlights the multidimensional bioactivity of Turkish propolis and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive phytochemical characterization for identifying extracts with application-specific therapeutic potential.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsAntineoplastic AgentsAntioxidantsPhytochemicalsPropolisCell Line, TumorFlavonoidsGram-Negative BacteriaGram-Positive BacteriaHumansMicrobial Sensitivity TestsPhenolsPlant ExtractsTurkeyAnti-Bacterial AgentsAntineoplastic AgentsAntioxidantsFlavonoidsPhenolsPhytochemicalsPlant ExtractsPropolisantibacterialanticancerchemical compositionpalynological analysispropolis

Identifiers

PMID42738730
PMCPMC13567232

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.