Propolis Essential Oil Treats Anxiety and Stress

Propolis contains up to 10% essential oils, more in quantity than most aromatic plants. This could explain why each time we smell propolis or air from the beehive, we experience a nice, relaxing sensation... 

TherapeuticEffects of Propolis Essential Oil on Anxiety of Restraint-Stressed Mice

Hum Exp Toxicol,  2012, February 

Propolishas a broad spectrum of biological activities; however, whether its essentialoils have neuroprotective effects is unknown.

In thisstudy, we found that propolis essential oil (PEO) could significantly reverse theanxiety-like behavior of restraint-stressed mice, and has no effect onlocomotor activity. Furthermore, PEO significantly decreased the plasma levelsof cortisol (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and malondialdehyde(MDA), whereas it increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) inrestraint-stressed mice.

Theseresults strongly suggest that PEO has therapeutic effects on anxiety throughantagonizing the hyperfunction of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis andimproving the ability of antioxidation in brain tissue.

Propolis Alleviates Oxidative Stress from Carcinogens

Possessing anti-tumor, anti-carcinogenic properties, Propolis can help humans, mammals and even aquatic animals! Wikipedia states, "...chromium is recognized as a human carcinogen... exposure known to occur among workers who handle chromate-containing products as well as those who perform welding, grinding or brazing on stainless steel"...

Antioxidant Effect of Propolis Against Exposure to Chromium in Cyprinus carpio

Environmental Toxicology, 2011 Nov 4

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ameliorative properties of propolis against the toxic effects of chromium (VI) by examining oxidative damage markers such as lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant defence system components in carp (Cyprinus carpio).

The fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations of chromium. Propolis was simultaneously administered to chromium-exposed fish. Treatment was continued for 28 days, and at the end of this period, blood and tissue (liver, kidney, spleen, and gill) samples were collected. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined in blood and tissues for measurement of oxidant-antioxidant status.

The levels of MDA, as an index of lipid peroxidation, increased in blood and tissues. Antioxidant enzyme activities in blood and tissues were modified in chromium groups compared to controls. Simultaneous administration of propolis ameliorated these parameters.

The present results suggest that administration of propolis might alleviate chromium-induced oxidative stress.

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.