Protective Effects of Indonesian Propolis Against Light-Induced Retinal Damage

The pharmacological and biological activities of Indonesian propolis are mostly unexplored except for its anticancer properties. This study was designed to explore the protective effects of the methanol extract of Indonesian propolis (MEP) obtained from the stingless bee (Trigona incisa) against light-induced retinal photoreceptor damage. Murine photoreceptor (661W) cells were cultured and treated with MEP. The cells were exposed to cellular stress inducers such as tunicamycin, hydrogen peroxide, and light irradiation. The protective effects of MEP were assessed by determining production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), analyzing changes in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) level, analyzing caspase-3/7 activation, and by using the zebrafish retinal degeneration model. MEP significantly reduced cell death induced by tunicamycin, hydrogen peroxide, and white light irradiation in a concentration-dependent manner. The phosphorylation of NF-κB decreased and light-induced activation of caspase-3/7 and intracellular accumulation of ROS were inhibited. The thickness of outer nuclear layer (ONL) in zebrafish retina significantly increased following MEP treatment. The MEP obtained from stingless bee propolis has a protective effect on photoreceptor retinal cells and has the potential to be developed as a supplement in prevention of retinal diseases.