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Volume 25 | Number 9 | September 2006728

Propolis, which bee product is that?

comp lementa ry ques t ions

by Assunta Hunter

Propolis is often commonly described

as bee glue. It is the resin-rich waxymaterial which is collected by bees fromvarious plant sources and used to cementthe hive together and seal all the surfaces.The resins collected from a variety of floraare masticated by the bees and subjectedto enzymatic breakdown before being usedto block off pieces of the hive where insectintruders have entered.1 It is not to beconfused with royal jelly which is anotherbee product. Its chemical compositiondepends on the geography and flora ofthe region but specimens from a rangeof continents have been shown to havesignificant anti-bacterial, anti-viral and

anti-fungal activity.2

Constituents The major constituentsare phenolic acid esters (58%), beeswax(24%), flavonoid aglycones (6%),triterpenes (0.5%) and lipids and wax (8%).It is rich in minerals and micro-nutrientssuch as manganese, zinc and copper.1Propolis may contain up to 5% pollen.3

Mechanism of action Phenolic estersand flavonoids have been shown to have someanti-bacterial activity.1,2 Samples from a varietyof different geographic sources demonstratein vitro antibacterial activity againstStaphylococcus aureusand Escherishia coliand

anti-viral activity against avian influenza virus,in addition to anti-fungal activity againstCandida albicans in extract hydro-alcoholicextracts with concentrations of 70% ethanol.2It is also notable that this research on anti-bacterial action of individual constituentsisolated from propolis also demonstratesthat no one single constituent of propolishas an activity greater than that of the wholeextract.2,3 Due to the flavone content it is anti-inflammatory.3,4

Dosage and preparations Mouthrinse: 5ml of 1:2 hydroalcoholic extractof propolis in 25ml of water. Use three to

four times daily.4

Lozenges: 5-10% propolis content. Usedas needed in mouth ulcers and pharyngitisand tonsillitis.

Fluid extracts: 1:2 hydroalcoholic extractswith a 70-90% ethanol content.

Dosage: .5-1.5ml TDS3

Vaginal douche: 5% solution to be usedfor seven consecutive days.5

Ointment: 3-5% ointment applied locally

for cervicitis and herpes simplex virus for10 days in a row.6

Clinical trials Propolis is more widelyused in Europe than in Australasia and thetrials on its use, while largely positive, aresmall and need further elaboration beforepropolis can be considered to be wellsupported by evidence.

Oral hygeine There are a numberof conflicting small studies about the useof propolis in dental caries, gingivitis anddental pain.7 It seems to have an impactin controlling the development of plaqueand decreasing gingivitis but it is unclear

how clinically significant these resultsare.8 Further large scale research is neededbefore meaningful clinical suggestions canbe made.

Asthma A small pilot study of46 patients with asthma on standardmedication suggests that propolis maybe used as an adjuvant in the treatmentof asthma. Patients taking a propolispreparation in a milk base, in additionto their medication, showed significantimprovement in inflammatory mediatorsand marked reduction in the severity andfrequency of nocturnal asthma attacks.10

Upper respiratory tract infections

A recent trial of 430 children aged 1-5 usinga combination product containing 50 mlEchinacea purpureaand angustifolia, propolis50mg/ml and Vitamin C 10 mg/ml for12 weeks as a preventative agent, showeda significant reduction in the frequency ofillness episodes. There was also a significantreduction in the days of fever for each child,and in use of concurrent medications such asantipyretics and antibiotics and a reductionin rhinitis and daytime cough.11

Herpes simplex A small studycomparing aclycovir, propolis and placebodemonstrated that patients using propolisshowed significantly reduced intensity ofherpes attacks, faster healing and reducedsuperinfections with pathogens, thaneither the aclycovir group or the placebogroup.6 In a small open study of the useof a 5% propolis solution as a douche inrecurrent vaginitis, there was a significantreduction in vaginal pain, discharge andimpairment in everyday life and sexualrelationships in the treated women.5 Moremethodologically robust trials of larger

groups are required to further support this

research.Contraindications Propolis is considered

relatively non-toxic and has a highNOEL (NO Effect Level) of 1400mg/kg of body weight in mice.3 There aremany case reports of contact dermatitis,erythema, eczema, vesiculitis, and pruritisassociated with contact with propolis byhypersensitive individuals.9

Those who are allergic to bee pollen andbee stings should avoid using propolis.

Pregnancy and lactation There areno clinical studies of the use of propolis inpregnancy and lactation.

Interactions None known

Adverse reactions In clinical trialsthese have been recorded as rare, mildand transient comprising of mildgastrointestinal symptoms.11

Assunta Hunter BA (Hons), ND, Master ofWomens Health (Melb Uni) is Complementary

Medicine Lecturer at the Australian Centrefor Complementary Medicine Education and

Research [ACCMER] (a joint venture between theUniversity of Queensland, Brisbane and SouthernCross University Lismore).

Bibliography1. Evans C and Evans D (eds). Trease and Evans

Pharmacognosy.(15th ed) WB Saunders Edinburgh,

2002;219-220.2. Kujumgiev A, Tsvetkova I, Serkedj ieva Y, Bankova V,

Christov R. Antibacterial, anti-funal and antiviral activityof propolis of different geographic origin. J Ethnopharm1999:64;235-40.

3. Burdock GA. Review of the biological properties andtoxicity of bee propolis (propolis) Fod Chem Toxicol1998:36:347-63.

4. Ernst E (ed) The desktop guide to complementary andalternative medicine: an evidence-based approach.Mosby, Edinburgh, 2001;145-7.

5. Imhof M, Lipovac M, Kurz J, Barta HC, Verhoeven HC,Huber JC. Propolis solution for the treatment of chronic

vaginitis. Int J Obstets Gynec 2005;89:127-32.6. Vynograd N, Vynograd I, Sosnowski Z. A comparative

multicentre study of the efficacy of propolis, acyclovir andplacebo in the treatment of genital herpes. Phytomedicine2000;7:1:1-6.

7. Mahmoud AS, Almas K, Dahlan AA. The effect of propolison dentinal hypersensitivity and level of satisfactionamong patients from a university hospital Riyadh, Saudi

Arabia. Indian J Dent Res 1999;10;4:130-7.8. Murray MC, Worthington HV, Blinkhorn AS. A study to

investigate the effect of a propolis-containing mouthrinseon the inhibition of de novo plaque formation. J ClinPeriodontol 1997;24;11:796-8.

9. MedlinePlus herbs and supplements. Available at: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-propolis.html accessed on 28.7.06

10. Khayal MT, El-Ghazaly MA, El Khatib ASD et al.A clinical pharmacological study of the potential benefitsof a propolis food product as an adjuvant in asthmaticpatients. Fund Clin Pharmacol 2003;17:93-102.

11. Cohen H, Vastano I, Kahan E, Sarrell M, Uziel Y.Effectiveness of a herbal preparation containingEchinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in preventingrespiratory tract infections in children. Arch Ped AdolescMed 2004:158:217-21.