eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2333-1240 2014-05-20 2 5 228 235 10.12691/jfnr-2-5-4 JFNR2014254 article Yazhou Zhao 1 Wenli Tian 1 Wenjun Peng pengwenjun@vip.sina.com 1 Institute of Apiculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China Previous studies suggest affirmative effects of propolis on cancers and diabetes, due to its abundant flavonids. But information is rarely available with regard to its effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC), particularly on cell proliferation and insulin resistance (IR). We measured the flavonids of ethanol extract from Chinese propolis (EEP) by HPLC. IR model of HepG2 cells were established, which were treated with different kinds and doses of propolis. The anti-proliferation and IR alleviation of HepG2 cells were studied. As result, EEP contained many flavonoids. Compared with other two solvents (PEG and DMSO), olive oil (dosage: 200 μg/mL) could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and alleviate IR of HepG2 cells. EEP dissolved in DMSO (mass ratio: 2:1; dosage: 300 ̦g/mL) exhibited anti-proliferative effect on HepG2 cells. When EEP was dissolved in olive oil (mass ratio: 2:1; dosage: 300 ̦g/mL), IR of HepG2 cells was greatly alleviated. As a conclusion, olive oil may be more suitable as auxiliary solvent of propolis as to improve its biological activities. High-dose propolis could effectively inhibit the proliferation and alleviate the IR of HepG2 cells in vitro. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/2/5/4/jfnr-2-5-4.pdf cell proliferation flavonoids HepG2 cells insulin resistance propolis