[Efficacy of Propolis] 3 benefits of propolis, a natural antibacterial agent made by bees

[Efficacy of Propolis] 3 benefits of propolis, a natural antibacterial agent made by bees

Propolis, a natural antibacterial agent

made by bees

Propolis efficacy
1. Antioxidant effect
2. Periodontitis symptom relief
3. Antibacterial effect


This is Jinny, the pharmacist.

Did you know that bee hives are sterile? The reason is that 'Propolis', which bees make by mixing their own saliva and beeswax by collecting the secretions of plants, is a natural antibiotic .

As the antioxidant and antibacterial effects of propolis have been proven through several studies, it is being used in various forms such as toothpaste, oral spray, and candy as well as nutritional supplements. Components such as vitamins, minerals, and flavonoids contained in propolis have been found to contribute to the antioxidant and antibacterial effects of propolis. Now, through the thesis, we will take a closer look at the benefits of ingesting propolis.
1. Antioxidant effect

Glutathione is a very important antioxidant in the human body that performs antioxidant action through oxidation-reduction reactions . The flavonoids and polyphenols contained in propolis increase the level of glutathione and reduce the substances produced by oxidation.

A paper published in Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine in 2017 actually revealed that when propolis was ingested, glutathione increased and oxidation products decreased, resulting in enhanced antioxidant capacity .
"Compared to placebo subjects , consumption of propolis induced a net increase in glutathione (GSH) levels and a decrease in oxidative reaction products (TBARS) in the propolis group."
Reference paper: Mujica, V., Orrego, R., Pérez, J., Romero, P., Ovalle, P., Zúñiga-Hernández, J., Arredondo, M., & Leiva, E. (2017). The Role of Propolis in Oxidative Stress and Lipid Metabolism: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM , 2017 , 4272940.
2. Relieve periodontitis symptoms

Periodontitis is an infection caused by bacteria in the mouth that spreads beyond the gums to the gums . When you have periodontitis, your teeth shake and you have pain when you eat food. A component called caffeic acid ester in propolis suppresses the activity of toll-like receptor 4, which promotes the secretion of inflammatory cytokines , significantly slows down the proliferation of inflammation and helps tissue regeneration.

In this regard, a paper published in the Journal of Periodontology in 2016 reported that oral intake of propolis reduced periodontal pocket depth, increased clinical attachment, and improved periodontal parameters .
“ Reduced periodontal pocket depth and increased clinical attachment increased significantly more than placebo in the propolis group at 3 and 6 months. ”
Reference paper: El-Sharkawy, HM, Anees, MM, & Van Dyke, TE (2016). Propolis Improves Periodontal Status and Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of periodontology , 87 (12), 1418–1426.
3. Antibacterial effect

As mentioned above, the flavonoids contained in propolis have an antioxidant effect and an effect of suppressing harmful bacteria, so you can get  an antibacterial effect when you ingest propolis .

A review paper published in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences in 2018 also reported the antibacterial effect of propolis as follows:
"In addition, propolis acts as a fungicide by preventing bacterial cell division, destroying the cell wall, bacterial cytoplasm, and stopping protein synthesis. "
Reference Papers: Anjum, SI, Ullah, A., Khan, KA, Attaullah, M., Khan, H., Ali, H., Bashir, MA, Tahir, M., Ansari, MJ, Ghramh, HA, Adgaba, N., & Dash, C.K. (2019). Composition and functional properties of propolis (bee glue): A review. Saudi journal of biological sciences , 26 (7), 1695–1703.

Today, we looked at the benefits of propolis through the thesis. Although propolis is an excellent antioxidant and antibacterial substance, there are some things to be aware of when consuming it. First of all, pollen is mixed in propolis, so those with pollen allergies should be careful when consuming it. In addition, since propolis slows down blood clotting, it is recommended to take it after consulting a specialist if you have a bleeding disorder or are about to undergo surgery.

I hope you have a healthy day in body and mind. It was Jinny.
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