Applications

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is the active component of propolis, a honeybee hive product.¹ Caffeic acid phenethyl ester is a specific inhibitor of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-κB.² CAPE has been shown to significantly suppress the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism during inflammation.^3,4 Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits HIV-1 integrase,^5,6 and also inhibits proliferation of transformed cells.^7,8 It induces apoptosis in transformed fibroblasts,⁹ and interferes with EGF signal transduction affecting both protein kinase C and ornithine decarboxylase activity.⁷