Propolis, Abundant Source of Beneficial Effects for Human Health

A molecular review on the rich spectrum of beneficial properties found in Propolis... 

Beneficial Effects of Propolis on Human Health and Neurological Diseases

Frontiers in Bioscience (Elite Ed), 2012 Jan 4

Propolis is a natural product, collected by honeybees Apis mellifera, from various plant sources. Propolis is extensively used in foods and beverages because it improves human health. It contains more than 300 natural compounds such as polyphenols, phenolic aldehydes, sequiterpene-quinones, coumarins, amino acids, steroids and inorganic compounds.

Propolis exhibits a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antitumor, anticancer, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective actions. The chemical composition and beneficial properties of propolis vary greatly depending on the phytogeographical areas, seasonal collection time, and botanical source. Polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables are beginning to receive increased attention due to their vital role in protecting neural cells from oxidative stress and neuroinflammation associated with normal aging and chronic age-related diseases.

Propolis is one of the most abundant sources of polyphenols (mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids). This overview is an attempt to discuss the molecular mechanism underlying the potential beneficial effects of propolis on human health and neurological diseases...

Propolis Protects Against Liver Damage

The natural protector, Propolis, proves once again it's an undeniably healthy choice to consume regularly...

Protective Effects of Propolis Extract on Allyl Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Phytomedicine, Volume 4, Issue 4, December 1997, Pages 309-314

Potential protective effects of ethanolic extract of Cuban red propolis against toxicity induced by allyl alcohol in mice was investigated.

Propolis at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/i.p. significantly decreased the activity of alanine amino transferase (EC 2.6.1.2) in serum and the levels of mal-ondialdehyde in mouse liver after induction with a dose of 64 mg/kg of allyl alcohol. However, propolis did not increase the concentration of reduced glutathione in mouse liver which is depleted by allyl alcohol. Propolis also reduced liver damage induced by allyl alcohol in mice. This effect was observed by electron microscopy.

The hepatoprotective effects of propolis were dose-dependent and they were produced when propolis was administered 30 min before allyl alcohol administration.

It is indicated that the ethanolic extract of red propolis exerts potential hepatoprotective effects in this experimental model which is probably caused by antioxidative properties (e.g. scavenging action against oxygen radicals) of this extract.

Propolis Protects Liver From Diabetes-Induced Damage

The importance of Propolis is its capacity to be complementary, enhancing the effects of antibiotics and other medication, while at the same time healing damaged tissue.

Protective effects of Chineseand Brazilian propolis treatment against hepatorenal lesion in diabetic rats
College of AnimalSciences, Zhejiang University; Hum Exp Toxicol Sept 2011 vol. 30

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus promoted an overproduction of freeradicals and an increased incidence of both diabetic nephropathy and liverdisease. In this report, we evaluated the effects of Chinese and Brazilianpropolis on streptozotocin-induced hepatorenal injury in rats.

The results demonstrated that Chinese propolis-treatedrats had a 7.4% reduction in the glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc) level comparedwith untreated diabetic rats. Additionally, Chinese propolis induced anincrease in the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level significantly whileBrazilian propolis raised serum SOD and reduced level of malonaldehyde (MDA)and nitric synthetase (NOS). Of the measurable decrease in serum alanine transaminase(ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and microalbuminuria demonstrated thepropolis-mediated improvement of hepatorenal function, which was furtherconfirmed by histological examination.

We also observed that Chinese and Brazilian propolisincreased hepatorenal glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) level and inhibited MDAproduction significantly. These results suggested that propolis may preventhepatorenal injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and enhancing theactivities of antioxidant enzymes.

Propolis Extract Functions as Growth Promoter, Immunostimulant & Hepatoprotective agent

impressive results from propolis continue to reinforce its potent value for animals, as well as humans... 

Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis on Growth Performance and Plasma Biochemical Parameters of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Fish Physiol Biochemistry, 2011 May 11

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) on growth performance and plasma biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Graded levels of EEP [0 (control), 1, 2, and 4 g kg(-1) diet] were fed to trout juveniles (mean weight 7.73 ± 0.17 g) for 10 weeks.

Dietary EEP supplementation regardless of inclusion level significantly improved the specific growth rate of fish. Similarly, supplemental EEP generally improved the feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio, but no significant differences were observed between the 1 g kg(-1) EEP group and the control group. In addition, dietary EEP supplementation generally increased the plasma superoxide dismutase, lysozyme, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities, but decreased the plasma malondialdehyde level. The plasma triglycerides level was significantly lower in the 1 or 4 g kg(-1) EEP group as compared with the control group.

Dietary EEP supplementation generally decreased the plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, but increased the hepatic aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities.

These results indicate the potential to use the EEP as a growth promoter, hepatoprotective agent, and immunostimulant for rainbow trout.