Biomedical Properties of Propolis on Diverse Chronic Diseases and Its Potential Applications and Health Benefits

The use of alternative medicine products has increased tremendously in recent decades and it is estimated that approximately 80% of patients globally depend on them for some part of their primary health care. Propolis is a beekeeping product widely used in alternative medicine. It is a natural resinous product that bees collect from various plants and mix with beeswax and salivary enzymes and comprises a complex mixture of compounds. Various biomedical properties of propolis have been studied and reported in infectious and non-infectious diseases. However, the pharmacological activity and chemical composition of propolis is highly variable depending on its geographical origin, so it is important to describe and study the biomedical properties of propolis from different geographic regions. A number of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer, are the leading causes of global mortality, generating significant economic losses in many countries. In this review, we focus on compiling relevant information about propolis research related to diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The study of propolis could generate both new and accessible alternatives for the treatment of various diseases and will help to effectively evaluate the safety of its use.

Antimicrobial effects of propolis on Clostridium difficile strains belonging to the different PCR-ribotypes

<p><em>Clostridium difficile</em> is a Gram-positive, anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium, which is a primary cause of nosocomial diarrhoea. The rising incidence of antibiotic resistance in pathogens such as <em>C. difficile</em> makes the new antibacterial natural products research very important and necessary to conduct. It has been observed that propolis has bactericidal effects<em>.</em> Propolis is a natural resinous product that is manufactured by honeybees (<em>Apis mellifera</em>). The antimicrobial activity of propolis is an important biological property. In spite of the large composition differences of the propolis types, all of them have antimicrobial activity. Twenty strains of the <em>C.difficile</em> belonging to four prominent PCR-ribotypes (RT) (RT017, RT023, RT027, and RT046) were used in research. MBC value were determined by broth dilution method. Propolis samples were obtained from honey bees farm in lubelskie woyevodship. Bactericidal effect of the propolis on <em>C.difficile</em> strains was observed at its concentration of 39 mg/ml.</p>

Antioxidant and dual dose-dependent antigenotoxic and genotoxic properties of an ethanol extract of propolis

Propolis is a resinous product made by honeybees from plant-derived materials, with high content of polyphenols associated to beneficial bioactivities with potential use as a natural food additive for preservation and as a functional food ingredient.

Comparison of Effects of the Ethanolic Extracts of Brazilian Propolis on Human Leukemic Cells As Assessed with the MTT Assay

Propolis is a resinous product collected by honey bees. It was also reported that propolis has a wide variety of biological actions, including antimicrobial activity and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and suppressive effects of dioxin toxicity activities. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro cytotoxic activities of green propolis (G12) and red propolis (G13) in human leukemia cells. These cells were incubated with different concentrations of propolis and 48 hours after the IC50was calculated for each cell. The results showed that the red propolis has cytotoxic effect in vitro higher than green propolis. Red propolis was showed to be cytostatic in K562 cells and caused the same amount of apoptosis as its control Gleevec. In conclusion, these results showed that red propolis is more cytotoxic than the green propolis in a variety of human cell lines of leukemia. Red propolis may contain drugs capable of inhibiting cancer cell growth. Therefore, further isolation of respective chemical ingredients from the red propolis (G13) for identification of the activities is necessary.

STUDIES ON LIGNIN AND RELATED COMPOUNDS: XXXIII. ISOLATION OF ACETOVANILLONE FROM WASTE SULPHITE PULP LIQUOR

Waste sulphite pulp liquor (obtained in the manufacture of a commercial sulphite pulp from soft woods, principally spruce and balsam) on treatment with aqueous alkali gave vanillin, acetovanillone, phenolic substances, and a tarry resinous product. The yield of acetovanillone is about 5.5% of that of the vanillin formed, or about 0.3% calculated on the basis of the lignin present.