The volatile composition of Turkish propolis with SPME-GCMS and it’s in silico anti-inflammatory effects

Abstract

Propolis, colloquially termed 'bee glue,' is a naturally occurring substance synthesized by bees, acclaimed for its therapeutic attributes and anti-inflammatory effects. The primary objective of this investigation is to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of the volatile compounds present in propolis. In this study, in silico drug discovery methodologies are employed to identify these compounds and ascertain their pharmacological targets. The research commences with the identification of volatile compounds within propolis and the prediction of their pharmacological targets using network pharmacology. Subsequently, molecular docking analyses are conducted to assess the binding affinity of these volatile compounds with key inflammatory proteins. This methodology yields insights into the potential of propolis's volatile bioactive compounds to selectively inhibit the activity of crucial inflammatory targets, including NLRP3 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The findings of this investigation reveal that the volatile compounds within propolis demonstrate the potential to selectively inhibit the activity of significant inflammatory targets, particularly NLRP3 and COX-2.  Volatile constituents of propolis may hold promise for therapeutic interventions in various inflammatory diseases, with a specific emphasis on respiratory diseases.