Q-TOF LC-MS compounds evaluation of propolis extract derived from Malaysian stingless bees, Tetrigona apicalis, and their bioactivities in breast cancer cell, MCF7

Propolis is known to exhibit various phytochemical compounds that aid in several biological activities. The current study investigates the phytochemical compounds of ethanolic extract of propolis of Tetrigona apicalis (EEP) using Q-TOF LC-MS, its antioxidant properties using DPPH and ABTS(+) radical scavenging assays, total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC), using Folin-Ciocalteu and Aluminium Chloride method, respectively, as well as proapoptotic effects, based on the selected IC(50) of the cytotoxic study conducted for EEP using annexin V-FITC assay. Terpene and polyphenol were among of 17 identified compounds. The EC(50) of EEP for DPPH and ABTS(+) was 1.78 mg/mL and 1.68 mg/mL, while the EEP exhibited TPC and TFC values of 31.99 mgGAE/g and 66.4 mgQCE/g, respectively in which the parameters were strongly correlated. The IC(50) of EEP effectively induces apoptosis in MCF7 cells. In conclusion, EEP possessed important phytochemical compounds that work excellently as antioxidants and anticancer agents.