Propolis, also called "bee glue," is a resinous substance bees use to construct and maintain their hives. In laboratory tests, propolis has exhibited a variety of interesting antimicrobial and anti-tumor properties.
Propolis has been used since ancient times in folk medicine for its beneficial effects.
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What's in Propolis?
Propolis is a mixture of resin, essential oils and waxes mixed with bee glue;
also it contains amino acid, minerals, ethanol, vitamin A, B complex, E, pollen and highly
active ingredients known as flavonoids or bioflavonoids.
Benefits of Propolis
Research studies indicate that propolis, a flavonoid-rich product of
honey comb, exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Laboratory
studies also show that propolis has anti-tumor effects. An ointment made of
propolis is able to heal genital herpetic lesions (see below). In addition,
propolis has can enhance the immune system and the flavonoids in propolis act as
antioxidants.
Antioxidant
Propolis seems to have potent antioxidants. Propolis is a resin-like,
sticky substance bees use in hive construction, while bee pollen is a mix of
flower pollen and nectar. Bees secrete royal jelly to feed larvae.
Researchers at Gifu Pharmaceutical University in Gifu, Japan found
that a water extract of Brazilian green propolis had the most potent
antioxidant effects, followed closely by an alcohol propolis extract. An
extract of bee pollen collected from two bee species in Spain also had
antioxidant effects, but was only about one-tenth as strong as the propolis
extracts. Royal jelly, collected from bees in China's Yangtze Valley and
freeze-dried, had no antioxidant effects. Tests of propolis components found
that caffeic acids dramatically reduced all three of the reactive oxygen
types. A chemical, artepillin C, accounted for some of the antioxidant
effects of the bee pollen. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine,
online February 26, 2009.
Antioxidant compounds of
propolis determined by capillary
electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.
J Sep Sci. 2007 Mar;30(4):595-603. Department of Analytical
Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Propolis is a resinous hive product rich in antioxidant compounds. Different
phenolic compounds (e.g. pinobanksin 3-acetate, naringenin, pinocembrin,
chrysin, daidzein, quercetin 3',7-dimethyl
ether, apigenin, and kaempferid) were detected. To confirm the identity of
the phenolic compounds in propolis extracts, accurate mass data of the
molecular ions were obtained by TOF MS. Limits of detection ranging from 6
mg/100 g of raw propolis for
chrysin to 58 mg/ 100
g of raw propolis for luteolin, were obtained.
Cancer prevention
Propolis possesses various physiological activities including
antitumor effects.
Immune system
Immunomodulatory and antimetastatic action of propolis and related
polyphenolic compounds.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Oct;94(2-3):307-315.
The effect of polyphenolic compounds isolated from propolis and propolis itself
was investigated on the growth and metastatic potential of a transplantable
mammary carcinoma (MCa) of CBA mouse. A water-soluble derivative of proplis, caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester and quercetin
were given to mice before tumor cells inoculation. Tested compounds
significantly decreased the number of tumor nodules in the lung. According to
the results obtained the antitumor activity of tested compounds can be related
to the immunomodulatory properties of the compounds, their cytotoxicity to tumor
cells, and their capacity to induce apoptosis and necrosis. The experimental
data support that propolis, caffeic acid, affeic acid phenethyl ester and quercetin could be potentially useful in the
control of tumor growth in experimental models.
Genital herpes
research
A comparative multi-centre study of the efficacy of
propolis, acyclovir and placebo in the treatment of
genital herpes (HSV).
Phytomedicine 2000 Mar;7(1):1-6.
Vynograd N, Vynograd I, Sosnowski Z.
Institute of Epidemiology, Lvov State Medical University, Ukraine.
Ninety men and women with recurrent genital HSV type 2 participated in a randomized,
single-blind, masked investigator, controlled multi-centre study comparing the efficacy of
ointment of Canadian propolis containing natural flavonoids with ointments of acyclovir
and placebo (vehicle) on healing ability and capacity to remedy symptoms. Thirty
individuals were randomized to each group. Treatment was intended to start in the blister
phase. All participants had HSV type 2 isolated, confirmed by serum immunoglobulin levels.
The participants were examined on the 3rd, 7th and 10th days of treatment by
gynaecologists, dermatovenerologists or urologists at seven different medical centres.
Apart from clinical symptoms the number and size of the herpetic lesions were noted. At
each examination the lesions were classified into four stages: vesicular, ulcerated,
crusted and healed. The study ointments were applied to affected areas four times daily.
In women with vaginal or cervical lesions a tampon with the appropriate ointment was
inserted four times daily for 10 days. Endpoint variables were healing time and time until
loss of symptoms. On Day 10, 24 out of 30 individuals in the propolis group had
healed. In the acyclovir group 14 out of 30 and in the placebo group 12 out of 30 had
healed. The healing process appeared to be faster in the propolis group. In the propolis
group 15 individuals had crusted lesions on Day 3 compared to 8 individuals in the
acyclovir group and none in the placebo group. On Day 7, 10 participants in the propolis
group, 4 in the acyclovir group and 3 in the placebo group had healed. At the initial
examination all patients had local symptoms and 28% general symptoms. At Day 3, 3 patients
in the propolis group had local symptoms compared to 8 and 9 in the acyclovir and placebo
groups respectively. Of the women, 66% had vaginal superinfections of microbial pathogens
at the initial examination. In the acyclovir and placebo groups no change in the vaginal
flora was found following treatment whereas in the propolis group the incidence of
superinfection was reduced by 55%. An ointment
containing flavonoids appeared to be more effective than both acyclovir and placebo
ointments in healing genital herpetic lesions, and in reducing local symptoms.
Giardiasis
Effect of propolis
versus metronidazole and their combined use in treatment of acute
experimental giardiasis.
J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2007 Aug;37(2 Suppl):691-710. Abdel-Fattah
NS, Nada OH. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams
University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
One hundred and fifty immunocompetent mice were orally infected by
axenically cultivated Giardia lamblia trophozoites. The trophozoite count in
intestine, interferon-gamma serum level, histopathological examination of
duodenal and jejunal sections were assessed for evaluation of propolis and
metronidazole (MTZ) effect after 6 and 12 days post infection (p.i). Also,
T-lymphocyte profile in blood was investigated 12 days p.i.. Propolis as
prophylaxis showed a significant decrease in intensity of infection,
together with a significant increase in IF-gamma serum level and increase in
CD4+: CD8+T-cell ratio. In treatment propolis gave a highly significant
decrease in trophozoite count than that obtained by MTZ 6 days after
infection but the efficacy was almost equal after 12 days. The mice treated
with propolis alone showed a reversed CD4+: CD8+ T-lymphocyte ratio, such
strong immune enhancing effect resulted in an undesirable increase in
inflammatory response at intestinal level. The combined therapy showed a
stronger efficacy in reducing the parasite count than that gained by each
drug alone.
Lung cancer
Propolin H from Taiwanese
propolis induces G1 arrest in human lung carcinoma cells.
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jun 27;55(13):5289-98. Graduate Institute
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan
University, Taipei 10018, Taiwan.
Propolis contains propolin H. Propolin H inhibits the proliferation of human
lung carcinoma cell lines, and a significant G1 arrest occurs in a
dose-dependent manner at 24 h of exposure in H460 cells.
Propolis cautions, side effects, risks
Propolis may infrequently
cause contact dermatitis and other allergic reactions.