Bee Propolis: Bee Propolis: Ancient Cure for Today’s AilmentsAncient Cure for Today’s Ailments

By: Dana CatalfamoBy: Dana Catalfamo

PropolisPropolis

Essentially the “glue” in bee hives.Essentially the “glue” in bee hives. Made of plant resin.Made of plant resin. Preserves warmth in hive and keeps out microbes.Preserves warmth in hive and keeps out microbes. Has various antimicrobial properties.Has various antimicrobial properties. Used for healing and part of “apitherapy”.Used for healing and part of “apitherapy”. Interesting uses including violin varnish.Interesting uses including violin varnish. Used since the Ancient Greeks and Romans Used since the Ancient Greeks and Romans

discovered it.discovered it.

Propolis in the HivePropolis in the Hive

(Kulincevica & Gacica, 1991)

Major ComponentsMajor Components

Caffeic acid phenethyl ether or CAPE.Caffeic acid phenethyl ether or CAPE. PhenolicsPhenolics TerpenesTerpenes HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons AcidsAcids FlavonoidsFlavonoids

Properties of Propolis in GeneralProperties of Propolis in General Stimulates antibody production.Stimulates antibody production. Inhibits viral entry into CD4 lymphocytes, especially Inhibits viral entry into CD4 lymphocytes, especially

against HIV-1.against HIV-1. Increases effectiveness of antiviral drugs such as the Increases effectiveness of antiviral drugs such as the

reverse transcriptase inhibitor, zidovudine.reverse transcriptase inhibitor, zidovudine. Treats opportunistic infections that plague AIDS Treats opportunistic infections that plague AIDS

patients.patients. Decreases lymphocyte proliferation when exposed to Decreases lymphocyte proliferation when exposed to

mitogens such as ConA.mitogens such as ConA. Increases production of IFN-Increases production of IFN-γγ and activates and activates

macrophages.macrophages.

Interesting Properties of CAPEInteresting Properties of CAPE

Inhibits Nuclear Transcription Factor KappaB or NF-Inhibits Nuclear Transcription Factor KappaB or NF-κκB, which drives T-cell proliferation and effector B, which drives T-cell proliferation and effector functions.functions.

Anti-inflammatory activity.Anti-inflammatory activity. Treats arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, or Treats arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, or

IBD.IBD. Inhibits IL-2 which also drives T-cell proliferation.Inhibits IL-2 which also drives T-cell proliferation.

Different Geographical Samples of Different Geographical Samples of PropolisPropolis

Not much of a difference in the effectiveness Not much of a difference in the effectiveness of propolis from different regions.of propolis from different regions.

Most common one studied is from Brazil and Most common one studied is from Brazil and also from Bulgaria.also from Bulgaria.

Increased Antibody ProductionIncreased Antibody Production

Propolis was shown to increase antibody Propolis was shown to increase antibody production in rats immunized with bovine production in rats immunized with bovine serum albumin, BSA.serum albumin, BSA.

Acted as adjuvant.Acted as adjuvant. Enhanced the activity of macrophages.Enhanced the activity of macrophages.

Increased Antibody ProductionIncreased Antibody Production

(Sforcin, Orsi, & Bankova, 2005)

Inhibition of NF-Inhibition of NF-κκBB

CAPE inhibited NF-CAPE inhibited NF-κκB binding to macrophages and B binding to macrophages and decreased cytokine production.decreased cytokine production.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-Tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-αα, which stimulates , which stimulates macrophages to kill tumor cells was used to see if NF- macrophages to kill tumor cells was used to see if NF- κκB would bind.B would bind.

Anti-inflammatory activity.Anti-inflammatory activity. Macrophages underwent apoptosis in patients with Macrophages underwent apoptosis in patients with

IBD leading to healing of the injuries to the colon.IBD leading to healing of the injuries to the colon.

Inhibition of NF-Inhibition of NF-κκBB

(Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

CAPE Induces Apoptosis in CAPE Induces Apoptosis in Macrophages in Patients with IBDMacrophages in Patients with IBD

(Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

CAPE Reduces Injury to the ColonCAPE Reduces Injury to the Colon

(Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

Inhibition of IL-2Inhibition of IL-2

CAPE inhibited IL-2 leading to anti-CAPE inhibited IL-2 leading to anti-inflammatory activity.inflammatory activity.

T-cell proliferation was inhibited in samples T-cell proliferation was inhibited in samples with Con-A, a mitogen, added.with Con-A, a mitogen, added.

Anti-viral ActivityAnti-viral Activity

Viral entry of HIV-1 was inhibited in CD4 Viral entry of HIV-1 was inhibited in CD4 lymphocytes.lymphocytes.

Effectiveness of the reverse transcriptase Effectiveness of the reverse transcriptase inhibitor, zidovudine, was increased.inhibitor, zidovudine, was increased.

Virus was kept from proliferating.Virus was kept from proliferating. HUGE BREAKTHROUGH!!!!! HUGE BREAKTHROUGH!!!!!

Propolis Decreased Viral Expression Propolis Decreased Viral Expression in CD4 Cellsin CD4 Cells

(Gekker, Hu, Spivak, Lokensgard, & Peterson, 2005)

Propolis Increases Effectiveness of Propolis Increases Effectiveness of Anti-viral DrugsAnti-viral Drugs

(Gekker et. al, 2005)

Treatment for AIDS PatientsTreatment for AIDS Patients

Propolis treats opportunistic fungal infections Propolis treats opportunistic fungal infections such as thrush and leukoplakia.such as thrush and leukoplakia.

Kept infections from coming back and Kept infections from coming back and alleviated symptoms.alleviated symptoms.

Increased the immune response.Increased the immune response.

Increased Production of IFN-Increased Production of IFN-γγ

Propolis increased IFN-Propolis increased IFN-γγ production leading to production leading to the antigen being presented on cells and the the antigen being presented on cells and the immune response starting to clear it faster.immune response starting to clear it faster.

Mitogen infected cells did not show Mitogen infected cells did not show proliferation that would normally happen.proliferation that would normally happen.

Kept mitogen from working.Kept mitogen from working.

Propolis Inhibits Mitogen ActivityPropolis Inhibits Mitogen Activity

PharmacologyPharmacology

No recommended dose.No recommended dose. Capsules, liquid, lozenges, tablets, creams, Capsules, liquid, lozenges, tablets, creams,

gels, toothpastes, mouth rinses, and cough gels, toothpastes, mouth rinses, and cough syrups.syrups.

Well tolerated unless a person is allergic to a Well tolerated unless a person is allergic to a component of propolis.component of propolis.

If allergic, hives result.If allergic, hives result.

SummarySummary

Propolis is an effective anti-inflammatory Propolis is an effective anti-inflammatory agent.agent.

Can be used to help AIDS patients.Can be used to help AIDS patients. Controls inflammatory diseases.Controls inflammatory diseases. Increases effectiveness of immune system.Increases effectiveness of immune system. Mechanisms are not known yet.Mechanisms are not known yet. HERBAL MEDICINE IS GOOD!! HERBAL MEDICINE IS GOOD!! Ancient cure for today’s ailments.Ancient cure for today’s ailments.

Works CitedWorks Cited Devillers, J., & Pham-Delegue, M. (2002). Devillers, J., & Pham-Delegue, M. (2002). Honey Bees: Estimating the Honey Bees: Estimating the

Environmental Impact of ChemicalsEnvironmental Impact of Chemicals. New York: Taylor & Francis Inc.. New York: Taylor & Francis Inc. Ellis, H. (2004). Ellis, H. (2004). Sweetness & LightSweetness & Light. New York: Harmony Books.. New York: Harmony Books. Fitzpatrick, L.R., Wang, J., & Le, T. (2001 December). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester,Fitzpatrick, L.R., Wang, J., & Le, T. (2001 December). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester,

an inhibitor of nuclear factor-KB, attenuates bacterial peptidoglycan poly-an inhibitor of nuclear factor-KB, attenuates bacterial peptidoglycan poly-saccharide-induced colitis in rats. saccharide-induced colitis in rats. The Journal of Pharmacology and The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, (299(3),Experimental Therapeutics, (299(3), 915-920. Retrieved October 23, 2005, 915-920. Retrieved October 23, 2005, from PubMed database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.from PubMed database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrezgov/entrez

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163. 163. Retrieved September 2, 2005, from ScienceDirect database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.sciencedirect.comRetrieved September 2, 2005, from ScienceDirect database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.sciencedirect.com Hubbell, S. (1988). Hubbell, S. (1988). A Book of Bees… and How to Keep ThemA Book of Bees… and How to Keep Them. New York: . New York:

Random House Inc.Random House Inc. James, J.S. (1987, July 31). Bee Propolis for Thrush, Fungus or Leukoplakia?James, J.S. (1987, July 31). Bee Propolis for Thrush, Fungus or Leukoplakia?

AIDS Treatment News, 1(37),AIDS Treatment News, 1(37), Retrieved September 19, 2005, from the Retrieved September 19, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.aids.org/atn/a-037-01.htmlWorld Wide Web: http://www.aids.org/atn/a-037-01.html

KulinčevićaKulinčevića, J. & , J. & GačićaGačića, R. (1991). , R. (1991). PropolisPropolis. Retrieved November 14, 2005, . Retrieved November 14, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.pcelar.co.yu/propolis.htmfrom the World Wide Web: http://www.pcelar.co.yu/propolis.htm

Marquez, N., Sancho, R., Macho, A., Calzado, M.A., Fiebich, B.L., & Munoz, E.Marquez, N., Sancho, R., Macho, A., Calzado, M.A., Fiebich, B.L., & Munoz, E.(2003, November 14). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits t-cell activation(2003, November 14). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits t-cell activationby targeting both nuclear factor of activated t-cells and NF-KB transcriptionby targeting both nuclear factor of activated t-cells and NF-KB transcriptionfactors. factors. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Fast Fast ForwardForward, 308(3),, 308(3), 993-1001. Retrieved October 23, 2005, from PubMed 993-1001. Retrieved October 23, 2005, from PubMeddatabase, On the World Wide Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrezdatabase, On the World Wide Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez

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