Common Names
- Bee propolis
- Propolis resin
- Propolis wax
- Bee glue
- Bee putty
For Patients & Caregivers
How It Works
A few studies have investigated the efficacy of propolis in treating various conditions. However, further study is needed to determine whether propolis is an effective treatment for any of them.
Propolis is a mixture of pollen, beeswax, and resin that is collected by honeybees from the buds and sap of certain trees and plants. It has been used in folk medicine and in food and drinks to improve health and prevent disease. Propolis is thought to be effective against cancer, diabetes, heart disease, infections, and inflammation. However, anticancer effects have not been confirmed in humans. Preliminary studies on the effect of topical propolis-containing products for cancer treatment-related oral ulcerations are mixed and more study is needed. In some instances propolis may actually have toxic effects.
Bee pollen, found in propolis, is a mixture of plant pollens, nectar, and bee secretions that bees form into granules to store as food. It is claimed as a “cure all” by some and is thought to have antiaging and stamina-increasing properties, as well as antioxidant effects. Bee pollen has been used to treat chronic inflammation of the prostate, as well as other conditions. However, aside from its nutritional value, clinical data show that the benefits of bee pollen are limited.
Allergic reactions to propolis and bee pollen have been reported. Therefore, patients who are allergic to bee venom (ie, bee stings), honey, ragweed, or chrysanthemum should not take either of these supplements.
Purported Uses
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Cancer
Laboratory studies show that propolis has anticancer properties. One study on propolis supplementation for colon cancer prevention in high-risk patients found no benefit, and actually indicated potential negative effects on muscle tissues including heart muscle cells. -
Cancer treatment-related oral ulcerations (mucositis)
A few studies evaluating propolis-containing products have had mixed results. -
Diabetes
Evidence is lacking to support this claim. -
Heart disease
Evidence is lacking to support this claim. -
Infections
A few small studies suggest that propolis can be effective in treating ear infections. -
Inflammation
Laboratory studies show that propolis has immunomodulatory effects. Human studies are needed.
Do Not Take If
Side Effects
The increased commercial use of propolis or bee pollen in cosmetics, supplement, food, and other industries, has led to a rise in reports of both skin and systemic reactions:
Case Reports
- Toxic reaction to sunlight: A 32-year-old woman experienced itching and rash with sun exposure after taking a dietary supplement containing ginseng, goldenseal, and bee pollen.
- Lip swelling, pain, skin redness and inflammation: In an 18-year-old woman who used propolis spray for gum swelling caused by orthodontic bands.
- Recurring lesion over a 1-year period: In a 55-year-old man related to the ingestion of bee pollen containing propolis.
- Fungal infection and recurrent itchy eyelid rash: In a 28-year-old woman related to daily application of beeswax-containing lip gloss using her fingers.
- Recurrent itchy widespread rash over a 3-year period: In a 65-year-old woman with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma related to the hobby of glass beading which involved contact with beeswax.
- Life-threatening deep neck infection that traveled into the chest cavity: In an otherwise healthy 40-year-old woman who took liquid propolis 3 times daily for 1 week to relieve common cold symptoms, requiring chest surgery.
- Tumor mimicking lung cancer: In a 36-year-old woman caused by the inhalation of long-term topically applied propolis on nasal passages to treat asthma. Interestingly, this patient tested negative to pollen allergies both before and after this adverse event occurred, even though this effect was confirmed to be related to the product.
- Acute kidney failure: In a 59-year-old man requiring dialysis after ingesting propolis for 2 weeks.
For Healthcare Professionals
Clinical Summary
Propolis is a resinous mixture of pollen and beeswax collected by honeybees from the buds and exudates of certain trees and plants (1). It has been used in folk medicine and in food and beverages to improve health and prevent disease.
In preclinical studies, propolis demonstrated antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunostimulatory, antiproliferative, vasomodulatory, cardioprotective, and radioprotective properties (2) (3) (15) (16); had synergistic antimicrobial effects when used with honey or ethyl alcohol (17); demonstrated anticancer activities in several human cancer cell lines (19) (20) (21) (22) (23); and enhanced the antitumor effects of temozolomide in human glioblastoma cells (18).
Small clinical trials have shown topical propolis to be useful for treating fungal foot infections (29); for healing diabetic foot ulcers (63); for reducing microbial counts and improving symptoms following periodontal treatment (30); useful as an effective adjuvant for treating asthma (4); and for treating plane and common warts (5). A propolis/zinc suspension reduced the number of acute otitis media infections in children (6). Also, supplementation with a combination of cranberry and propolis may help reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections (64).
In cancer settings, supplemental propolis was not useful for colon cancer prevention, and had negative effects on muscle tissues including myocardial cells (31). Its effects on chemotherapy-induced mucositis are thus far equivocal (32) (33) (34) (65) (66).
Bee pollen, a constituent of propolis, is a mixture of plant pollens, nectar, and bee saliva that bees form into granules to store as food (8). It is claimed as a “cure all” by some and is touted for its antiaging and stamina-increasing properties, antioxidant effects, and for chronic prostatitis, among other conditions. Aside from its nutritional value, clinical data show that bee pollen has limited benefits in improving athletic performance (9) (10).
In addition, although a number of laboratory studies indicate anticancer effects, propolis or its constituents may also act as pro-oxidants (35), produce cytotoxic effects in normal cells (31) (36) (37) (38), and/or have mutagenic activity (39) (40) indicating that risk versus benefit also needs further evaluation.
Mechanism of Action
In vitro studies have identified a number of active propolis constituents and their potential mechanisms. Generally, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities are related to total phenolic contents (15); caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and artepillin C are well-known anti-inflammatory components (25); and the main active anticancer constituents are CAPE and chrysin (23). However, all of these constituents also possess these other characteristics to some degree and vary with geographic origin.
CAPE specifically inhibits nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) (41). In human breast cancer cells, it also inhibits MDR gene expression, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (20). CAPE decreased malignancy potential of breast cancer stem cells via inhibition of self-renewal, progenitor formation, and clonal growth, and significantly decreased CD44 expression (42). CAPE-initiated S- and G2/M-phase cell-cycle arrests and apoptosis in human cervical cancer lines was associated with increased E2F-1 expression (43).
The flavonoid chrysin demonstrated photoprotective effects by attenuating UVA- and UVB-induced apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression (44). Chrysin is an inhibitor of aromatase, an enzyme converting testosterone into estrogen (39). It is also a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor and inhibited HDAC8 enzymatic activity and tumor growth in human breast cancer cell lines (23). Chrysin may overcome tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) resistance through Mcl-1 downregulation via STAT3 phosphorylation inhibition (45). A novel chrysin-organogermanium complex demonstrated inhibitory effects across several human cancer cell lines, with high selectivity between cancer cells and normal cells causing membrane toxicity as demonstrated by decreased cell rigidity and adhesion force, and apoptosis via ROS-dependent mitochondrial pathways (46).
The phenolic compound artepillin C is the major constituent that stimulates pungent taste by activating TRPA1 channels (47). Its immune-modulating effects are attributed to suppression of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-17 expression in alloreactive CD4 T cells, suggesting its potential in treating graft versus host disease (48). Artepillin C also sensitizes prostate cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by engaging both extrinsic receptor-mediated and intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathways (21). In different tumor cell lines, artepillin C and baccharin were found to be more cytotoxic than propolis, without additive or synergistic effects when combined (49).
Induction and/or inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1) and HIF-1 target genes also been demonstrated with other constituents, including polyphenols, cinnamic acid derivatives baccharin and drupanin, and the flavonoids beturetol and isosakuranetin (50) (51). Baccharin plus drupanin particularly exerted synergistic growth-inhibitory effects, via intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic signaling transduction and by modulating miRNA expression (22). Baccharin demonstrates highly selective inhibition of human aldo-keto reductase superfamily (AKR1C3), and suppressed proliferation of PC3 prostate cancer cells stimulated by AKR1C3 overexpression (52). A synthesized baccharin derivative also demonstrated AKR1C3 inhibition (53).
In vitro studies of propolis as a whole demonstrate significant free-radical scavenging activity and anti-inflammatory effects by modulating key inflammatory mediators of mRNA transcription, inhibiting specific inflammatory cytokines, and blocking NF-kB activation (55). Propolis was also found to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human leukemia cells through activation of caspase-3 via the mitochondrial pathway (2). Apoptotic induction in human breast cancer cells occurs partly through endoplasmic reticulum stress-related signaling (19), and synergy between propolis and temozolomide in human glioblastoma cell lines is also partly attributed to reduced NF-kB activity (18).
In animal models, an ethanolic propolis extract enhanced reverse cholesterol transport via stimulated plasma HDL levels and hepatic ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression (24). Propolis promotes wound-healing by exerting effects on mast cells that result in downregulation of type I allergy and inflammation (25) and modifying fibronectin metabolism (26). Immunomodulatory effects occurred through increased toll-like receptor expression and IL-1beta and IL-6 production (12). Pretreatment with orally-administered propolis extract reduced doxorubicin-induced oxidative damage to heart mitochondria (3). Diabetic hepatorenal damage was attentuated via antioxidant activity including free-radical scavenging, and was more pronounced in ethanol than water extracts (56). In human colon cancer models, oral propolis at doses that caused no detectable toxicity was associated with a decrease in mitotic cells and Ki-67 expression as well as increased endoreduplications and p53 expression, and apoptosis in leukemia cells was associated with downregulation of Bcl-2 and Bax activation (27).
Contraindications
Patients allergic to bee stings (bee venom), intolerance to honey, or allergic to ragweed/chrysanthemums should avoid products containing bee pollen, such as propolis (8).
Adverse Reactions
Propolis has strong sensitizing properties and is well documented as an occupational contact allergen. However, due to its increased use in cosmetics, supplement, food, and other industries, there has also been a rise in nonoccupational contact allergy reports as well as systemic reactions:
Case Reports
- Photosensitivity reaction: Itching and rash in a 32-year-old woman after taking a dietary supplement containing ginseng, goldenseal and bee pollen (14).
- Contact cheilitis and perioral dermatitis: Lip edema, perioral skin erythema accompanied by lip burning pain in an 18-year-old woman with self-prescribed topical use of propolis spray as a medication for gingival swelling caused by orthodontic molar bands (57).
- One-year history of a recurrent lesion: In a 55-year-old man attributed to ingestion of bee pollen containing propolis. The lesion eventually cleared with cessation of the natural product used and erupted again with subsequent substance re-challenge, confirming product reaction (58).
- Ectopic periorbital dermatitis and mycosis: In a 28-year-old woman with a 4-month history of recurrent itchy rash of the eyelids. Patch testing included positive reactions to propolis. Daily application of beeswax-containing lip gloss using her fingers implicated propolis in beeswax as the relevant allergen (59).
- Fungoides-like dermatitis: In a 65-year-old woman with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma and 3-year history of a recurrent itchy widespread rash. Patch testing included positive reactions to propolis. Her reaction was related to the hobby of glass beading which involved contact with beeswax (59).
- Descending necrotizing mediastinitis and aspiration pneumonia: In an otherwise healthy 40-year-old woman who took liquid propolis 3 times daily for 1 week to relieve common cold symptoms. Severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, easy choking, and fever and chills developed. Thoracoscopic surgery to achieve immediate and adequate drainage was necessary for this life-threatening reaction (60).
- Propolis aspiration mimicking lung cancer: In a 36-year-old woman who presented with a pulmonary tumor with high carcinoembryonic antigen titer caused by chronic aspiration from propolis topically applied on nasal mucosa as 6 months’ adjuvant therapy for her asthma. Interestingly, this patient had negative allergen-specific IgE assay results for all common inhalant allergens, including pollen, before and after this adverse event (61).
- Acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis: In a 59-year-old man requiring hemodialysis after ingestion of propolis for 2 weeks (62).
Herb-Drug Interactions
- Warfarin: A published case report described a probable interaction between warfarin and honeybee pollen, which caused an increase in the international normalized ratio (INR) (8).