Biomedical Frontiers: Fall 1996, Vol.4, No.1
From the Bees

A compound derived from an ancient folk remedy is showing promise as a chemoprotective agent. The substance, CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester), was isolated and patented by Dr. Dezider Grunberger, professor emeritus of biochemistry and molecular biophysics and of public health in the Institute of Cancer Research, and Dr. Koji Nakanishi, professor of chemistry. CAPE is derived from propolis, a black waxy substance in honeybee hives.

Propolis has been used as a folk remedy for thousands of years and, beginning in 1985, Dr. Grunberger began trying to isolate any medicinally useful compounds in propolis. The result was CAPE, a compound with antioxidant properties. Preclinical studies have shown that CAPE protects against ultraviolet light, acts as an anti-inflammatory, and inhibits the growth of tumors in mice. CAPE has a chemically simple structure and can be synthetically made. Dr. Grunberger is conducting further studies of CAPE's basic properties and working to develop it as a chemoprotective agent.