Propolis

Unlike pollen, of relatively recent medicinal use, propolis or bee glue was an official medication in the London pharmacopeias of the seventeenth century.  However, there was a long hiatus in its popularity between the seventeenth and the late twentieth century; now propolis once again is receiving considerable attention from laypersons and scientists both. The unusual medication is a brownish resinous material collected by bees from the buds of various poplar and conifer trees and used by the insects to fill cracks or gaps in their hives.

Those who advocate its therapeutic use claim that propolis has an antibacterial activity greater than that of penicillin and other common antibiotic medicine. They maintain the product "works" by raising the body's natural resistance to infection through stimulation of the immunity system. It is supposed to be especially beneficial in the treatment of tuberculosis. Duodenal ulcers and gastric disturbances are also thought to benefit from propolis therapy. Applied externally in the form of a cream, advocates say it relieves various types of dermatitis, especially those caused by bacteria and fungi. Propolis is commercially available in the form of capsules (both pure and combined with 50% pollen), throat lozenges, cream, chips (used like chewing gum), and as a powder (to prepare a tincture).

More than 25 different constituents of propolis have now been tested scientifically against various species of bacteria and fungi for antibacterial and antifungal effects. Results indicate that the antimicrobial properties of the medication are attributable mainly to the flavonoids pinocembrin, galangin, pinobanksin, and pinobanksin-3-acetate; in addition p-coumaric acid benzyl ester and a chaffiest acid ester mixture were also active. Pinocembrin, a 5,7-dihydroxyflavanone, showed considerable antifungal activity. However, none of these isolated principles was as effective as various antibiotics or sulfa medicine with which they were compared: streptomycin, oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, nystatin, griseofulvin, and sulfamerazine.

A series of studies on propolis carried out by Polish investigators showed that besides bacteriostatic and fungistatic properties, the medication inhibited the growth of protozoa, accelerated bone formation, had regenerative effects on tissues, stimulated some enzyme actions, and showed cytostatic effects (inhibited cell growth and division). It must be emphasized that all of these results were obtained from experiments carried out in vitro, that is, in the chemical laboratory outside the living body, or in small animals. Double-blind clinical trials in human beings have apparently never been conducted with propolis.

The flavonoid pigments of propolis seem to possess modest antibacterial and antifungal properties but much less active than the standard medicine for controlling such microorganisms. Other tentative claims for potential therapeutic utility require clinical verification. In the interim, it is safe-and appropriate-to continue using propolis to seal openings in bee hives, where it has proven highly effective.

• beeswax
• bee pollen
• honey
• royal jelly