In vitro wound healing potential of malaysian tetrigona apicalis propolis

Stingless bee propolis, a natural resinous substance, has garnered scientific attention due to its rich array of bioactive compounds and traditional medicinal uses. While extensive studies have characterized the biological properties and therapeutic potential of propolis from various regions, limited research has been conducted on Malaysian stingless bee propolis. This study investigated the in vitro wound healing potential of the ethanolic extract of Malaysian Tetrigona apicalis propolis. Human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells were used to assess cell viability, proliferation, and migration through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and scratch assays. Cell viability was determined after 24 h of treatment, while proliferation was measured at 48 and 72 h. The scratch assay assessed cell migration following 24 h of treatment at various extract concentrations. The results indicated that the ethanolic extract of T. apicalis did not exhibit cytotoxic effects on HaCaT cells at concentrations ranging from 7.81 and 125.00 µg/mL but caused a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability at higher concentrations of 250-1000 µg/mL. At 100 μg/mL, the extract significantly enhanced cell migration within 24 h compared to the positive control, allantoin. These findings highlight the enhanced cell migration within 24 h compared to the positive control, allantoin. These findings suggest that T. apicalis propolis possesses properties that may support wound healing. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate its mechanisms of action and evaluate its practical applications in wound care therapies.