Health from the Hive: Potential Uses of Propolis in General Health

Eshwar  Shruthi; B.  S. Suma

doi:10.4236/ijcm.2012.33033

Eshwar Shruthi^*, B. S. Suma

Abstract: The health industry has always used natural products as an alternative, to the conventional allopathic formulations available for the treatment of various afflictions. Propolis, a natural antibiotic is a resinous yellow brown to dark brown substance that honey bees (Apis mellifera) collect from tree buds, sapflows, shrubs or other botanical sources to seal unwanted open spaces in the hive, protecting it from outside contaminants. The main chemical classes present in propolis are flavonoids, phenolics and other various aromatic compounds. Flavonoids are well known plant compounds that have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Propolis has been used in general for various purposes and has a promising role in future medicine as well as in dentistry. This paper is an attempt to review various applications of this compound in medicine.

Keywords: Propolis; General Health; Safety & Precautions

Cite this paper: E. Shruthi and B. S. Suma, "Health from the Hive: Potential Uses of Propolis in General Health," International Journal of Clinical Medicine, Vol. 3 No. 3, 2012, pp. 159-162. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2012.33033.

References

[1] K. Almas, A. Dahlan and A. Mahmoud, “Propolis as a Natural Remedy: An Update,” Saudi Dental Society, Vol. 13, No. 1, 2001, pp. 45-49.

[2] A. Parolia, M. S. Thomas, M. Kundabala and M. Mohan, “Propolis and Its Potential Uses in Oral Health,” International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Vol. 2, No. 7, 2010, pp. 210-215.

[3] C. Scully, “Propolis: A Background,” British Dental Journal, Vol. 200, No. 7, 2006, pp. 359-360. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4813435

[4] Bee Propolis and Its Medicinal Uses, 3 December 2005. http://www.pharmainfo.net/reviews/bee-propolis-and-its-medicinal-uses

[5] J. M. Grange and R. W. Davey, “Anti-Bacterial Propertiesof Propolis,” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Vol. 83, No. 3, 1990, pp. 159-160.

[6] H. Koo, J. A. Cury, P. L. Rosaleu and Y. K. Park, “Effects of Propolis from Two Different Regions of Brazil on Oral Microorganisms,” Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 77, 1998, p. 1157.

[7] J. Serkedjieva, “Anti-Influenza Virus Effect of Some Propolis Constituents and Their Analogues (Esters of Substituted Cinnamic Acids),” Journal of Nat Products, Vol. 55, No. 3, 1992, pp. 294-302. doi:10.1021/np50081a003

[8] J. Miller-Clere, D. Michel, J. Simeray and J. P. Chaumon, “Preliminary Study of the Anti-Fungal Properties of Propolis Compared with Some Commercial Products,” Fac Medicine & Pharmacy, Besancon Monograph Cedex, France 1987.

[9] W. Krol, Z. Czuba, S. Scheller, J. Gabrys, S. Grabiec and J. Shani, “Anti-Oxidant Property of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis (EEP) as Evaluated by Inhibiting the Chemilminescence Oxidation of Luminal,” Biochemistry International, Vol. 21, No. 4, 1990, pp. 593-597.

[10] A. Russo, R. Longo and A. Vanella, “Antioxidant Activity of Propolis: Role of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Galangin,” Fitoterapia, Vol. 73, Suppl. 1, 2002, pp. S21- S29. doi:10.1016/S0367-326X(02)00187-9

[11] V. Cardile, A. Panico, B. Gentile, F. Borrelli and A. Russo, “Effect of Propolis on Human Cartilage and Chondrocytes,” Life Science, Vol. 73, No. 8, 2003, pp. 1027-1035. doi:10.1016/S0024-3205(03)00381-3

[12] G. Fischer, et al., “Immunodomodulation Produced by a Green Propolis Extract on Humoral and Cellular Responses of Mice Immunized with SuHV-1,” Vaccine, Vol. 25, No. 7, 2007, pp. 1250-1256. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.10.005

[13] S. Scheller, W. Krol, J. Swiacik, K. S. Owcare, J. Gabrys and J. Shani, “Antitumocal Property of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis in Mice-Bearing Ehrlich Carcinoma, as Compared to Bleomycin,” Department of Microbiology, Silesian School of Medicine, Zabrze-Rokitnica, Monograph Poland, 1989.

[14] J. Galvao, et al., “Biological Therapy Using Propolis as Nutritional Supplement in Cancer Treatment,” International Journal of Cancer Research, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2007, pp. 43-53. doi:10.3923/ijcr.2007.43.53

[15] J. Focht, S. H. Hansen, J. V. Nielsen, A. van den Berg- Segers and R. Riezler, “Bactericidal Effect of Propolis in Vitro against Agents Causing Upper Respiratory Tract Infections,” Bioscientia, Vol. 43, No. 8, 1993, pp. 921-923.

[16] P. Wander, “Taking the Sting out of Dentistry,” Dental Practice, Vol. 25, N 1995, pp. 3-4.

[17] US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, “Propolis: Medlineplus Supplements,” NLM & NIH, Bethesda