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Inhaltsstoff-Glossar
Propolis
What Is Propolis?
Propolis is also known as bee glue, bee resin, or propolis resin. Externally, it is commonly used to treat colds, burns, and support wound healing. When taken internally, propolis is believed to strengthen the immune system and help prevent disease. Recent clinical research also suggests that it has potential for the management of metabolic syndrome.
Where Does Propolis Naturally Occur?
The name Propolis (meaning "before the city") is particularly fitting, as bees collect large amounts of this natural resin around the entrance of the hive. Beekeepers harvest propolis directly from the hive or install special collection grids that allow the propolis to be collected after a certain period.
The main component of propolis consists of natural plant resins that bees gather from buds and trees before combining them with beeswax, pollen, essential oils, and saliva to produce the final substance. Due to its highly complex composition, propolis cannot be synthetically manufactured.
The main component of propolis consists of natural plant resins that bees gather from buds and trees before combining them with beeswax, pollen, essential oils, and saliva to produce the final substance. Due to its highly complex composition, propolis cannot be synthetically manufactured.
What Is the Primary Function of Propolis in the Body?
Without propolis and the properties that make it so valuable to humans, bees would not be able to survive. They use propolis inside the hive as a natural all-purpose antibiotic that not only inhibits the growth of bacteria but also helps keep viruses and fungi under control.
Bees use propolis resin to seal their hive, line the brood chamber, and isolate foreign objects. Even the ancient Egyptians recognized the antimicrobial properties of propolis, using it during mummification to preserve the dead. Propolis protects, preserves, and insulates.
These effects are primarily attributed to its high content of phenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, many of which are also considered beneficial for human health. In total, propolis contains up to 300 compounds, many of which have not yet been fully characterized scientifically.
Bees use propolis resin to seal their hive, line the brood chamber, and isolate foreign objects. Even the ancient Egyptians recognized the antimicrobial properties of propolis, using it during mummification to preserve the dead. Propolis protects, preserves, and insulates.
These effects are primarily attributed to its high content of phenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, many of which are also considered beneficial for human health. In total, propolis contains up to 300 compounds, many of which have not yet been fully characterized scientifically.
What Are the Benefits of Supplementing with Propolis?
Laboratory and human studies have confirmed the antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties of propolis when used both internally and externally.
Participants suffering from herpes achieved almost twice the healing speed by using an ointment containing propolis compared to acyclovir, a pharmaceutical agent specifically targeting herpes viruses. In cases of oral Candida infections, a 2% propolis solution achieved the same clinical cure rate of 70% as the potentially liver-toxic antifungal drug miconazole.
In animal studies, propolis was shown to neutralize reactive oxygen species, thereby helping to counteract oxidative stress. Clinical studies have also demonstrated that propolis is effective in the treatment of periodontitis and may have potential as a supportive therapy for neurological disorders and injuries.
Several studies further indicate that propolis may enhance the effectiveness of antibiotic medications in laboratory experiments. If these findings can be replicated in humans, propolis could help reduce the need for antibiotic treatment. Propolis may also provide benefits when combined with pain medications such as NSAIDs. In preclinical studies, it protected the intestinal lining and helped prevent the formation of gastric ulcers.
Disadvantages of propolis include the natural variability of its composition and its tendency to cause contact allergies. The composition of propolis varies depending on the geographical location of the beehive. For example, propolis collected in mountainous regions generally contains less diversity of active compounds because biodiversity decreases with increasing altitude. Consequently, propolis from different geographical regions may differ significantly in composition and biological activity, as demonstrated in studies investigating its anticancer properties.
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) warns that propolis may trigger allergic reactions in approximately 1–5% of individuals who come into contact with it or consume it. Due to insufficient clinical evidence, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has not yet approved any health claims relating to propolis.
References
Further information and scientific studies on the active ingredient propolis can be found here.
A comparative multi-centre study of the efficacy of propolis, acyclovir and placebo in the treatment of genital herpes (HSV)
www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10782483
Biological Properties and Therapeutic Applications of Propolis
www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26988443