Description
Phenethyl caffeate is a compound found in propolis, a mixture produced by bees. Phenethyl caffeate exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, antioxidative, cardioprotective, anti-obesity, and anticancer chemotherapeutic activities. In vitro, phenethyl caffeate inhibits IL-1β-induced expression of IL-6, MCP-1, and ICAM-1, and suppresses phosphorylation of Akt and NF-κB. In vivo, phenethyl caffeate decreases levels of AST and lactate dehydrogenase and suppresses lipid peroxidation. Phenethyl caffeate also decreases body weight gain and fat mass in animal models fed a high fat diet, potentially by inhibiting adipogenesis. In other animal models, this compound inhibits 5-lipoxygenase and decreases blood pressure, collagen deposition, and other atherosclerotic biomarkers. In animal and cellular models of colorectal cancer, phenethyl caffeate induces apoptosis and inhibits cellular and tumor growth.
References
Yang JW, Jung WK, Lee CM, et al. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits the inflammatory effects of interleukin-1β in human corneal fibroblasts. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2014 Oct;36(5):371-7. PMID: 25151996.
Ilhan S, Yılmaz N, Nacar E, et al. The effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury in hypertensive rats. Anadolu Kardiyol Derg. 2014 Jun 3. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 25036319.
Chiang EP, Tsai SY, Kuo YH, et al. Caffeic acid derivatives inhibit the growth of colon cancer: involvement of the PI3-K/Akt and AMPK signaling pathways. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 24;9(6):e99631. PMID: 24960186.
Shin SH, Seo SG, Min S, et al. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a major component of propolis, suppresses high fat diet-induced obesity through inhibiting adipogenesis at the mitotic clonal expansion stage. J Agric Food Chem. 2014 May 14;62(19):4306-12. PMID: 24611533.
Hassan NA, El-Bassossy HM, Mahmoud MF, et al. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a 5-lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitor, alleviates diabetic atherosclerotic manifestations: effect on vascular reactivity and stiffness. Chem Biol Interact. 2014 Apr 25;213:28-36. PMID: 24508943.
