Bee Propolis:

Ancient Cure for Todays Ailments

By: Dana Catalfamo

Propolis

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

Propolis in the Hive

(Kulincevica & Gacica, 1991)

Major Components

Caffeic acid phenethyl ether or CAPE. Phenolics Terpenes Hydrocarbons Acids Flavonoids

Properties of Propolis in General

Stimulates antibody production. Inhibits viral entry into CD4 lymphocytes, especially against HIV-1. Increases effectiveness of antiviral drugs such as the reverse transcriptase inhibitor, zidovudine. Treats opportunistic infections that plague AIDS patients. Decreases lymphocyte proliferation when exposed to mitogens such as ConA. Increases production of IFN- and activates macrophages.

Interesting Properties of CAPE

Inhibits Nuclear Transcription Factor KappaB or NFB, which drives T-cell proliferation and effector functions. Anti-inflammatory activity. Treats arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Inhibits IL-2 which also drives T-cell proliferation.

Different Geographical Samples of Propolis

Not much of a difference in the effectiveness of propolis from different regions. Most common one studied is from Brazil and also from Bulgaria.

Increased Antibody Production

Propolis was shown to increase antibody production in rats immunized with bovine serum albumin, BSA. Acted as adjuvant. Enhanced the activity of macrophages.

Increased Antibody Production

(Sforcin, Orsi, & Bankova, 2005)

Inhibition of NF-B

CAPE inhibited NF-B binding to macrophages and decreased cytokine production. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-, which stimulates macrophages to kill tumor cells was used to see if NFB would bind. Anti-inflammatory activity. Macrophages underwent apoptosis in patients with IBD leading to healing of the injuries to the colon.

Inhibition of NF-B

(Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

CAPE Induces Apoptosis in Macrophages in Patients with IBD

(Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

CAPE Reduces Injury to the Colon

(Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

Inhibition of IL-2

CAPE inhibited IL-2 leading to antiinflammatory activity. T-cell proliferation was inhibited in samples with Con-A, a mitogen, added.

Anti-viral Activity

Viral entry of HIV-1 was inhibited in CD4 lymphocytes. Effectiveness of the reverse transcriptase inhibitor, zidovudine, was increased. Virus was kept from proliferating. HUGE BREAKTHROUGH!!!!!

Propolis Decreased Viral Expression in CD4 Cells

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

Propolis Increases Effectiveness of Anti-viral Drugs

(Gekker et. al, 2005)

Treatment for AIDS Patients

Propolis treats opportunistic fungal infections such as thrush and leukoplakia. Kept infections from coming back and alleviated symptoms. Increased the immune response.

Increased Production of IFN-

Propolis increased IFN- production leading to the antigen being presented on cells and the immune response starting to clear it faster. Mitogen infected cells did not show proliferation that would normally happen. Kept mitogen from working.

Propolis Inhibits Mitogen Activity

Pharmacology

No recommended dose. Capsules, liquid, lozenges, tablets, creams, gels, toothpastes, mouth rinses, and cough syrups. Well tolerated unless a person is allergic to a component of propolis. If allergic, hives result.

Summary

Propolis is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Can be used to help AIDS patients. Controls inflammatory diseases. Increases effectiveness of immune system. Mechanisms are not known yet. HERBAL MEDICINE IS GOOD!! Ancient cure for todays ailments.

Works Cited

Devillers, J., & Pham-Delegue, M. (2002). Honey Bees: Estimating the Environmental Impact of Chemicals. New York: Taylor & Francis Inc. Ellis, H. (2004). Sweetness & Light. New York: Harmony Books. Fitzpatrick, L.R., Wang, J., & Le, T. (2001 December). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, an inhibitor of nuclear factor-KB, attenuates bacterial peptidoglycan polysaccharide-induced colitis in rats. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, (299(3), 915-920. Retrieved October 23, 2005, from PubMed database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/entrez Gekker, G., Hu, S., Spivak, M., Lokensgard, J.R., & Peterson, P.K. (2005, May). Anti-HIV-1 activity of propolis in CD4+ lymphocyte and microglial cellcultures. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 102(1), 158-163. Retrieved September 2, 2005, from ScienceDirect database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.sciencedirect.com Hubbell, S. (1988). A Book of Bees and How to Keep Them. New York: Random House Inc. James, J.S. (1987, July 31). Bee Propolis for Thrush, Fungus or Leukoplakia? AIDS Treatment News, 1(37), Retrieved September 19, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.aids.org/atn/a-037-01.html Kulinevia, J. & Gaia, R. (1991). Propolis. Retrieved November 14, 2005, from 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. (2003, November 14). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits t-cell activation by targeting both nuclear factor of activated t-cells and NF-KB transcription factors. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Fast Forward, 308(3), 993-1001. Retrieved October 23, 2005, from PubMed database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez Parham, P. (2005). The Immune System. New York: Garland Science. Propolis. (2005). Retrieved September 19, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/pro_0294.shtml Sa-Nunes, A., Faccioli, L.H., & Sforcin, J.M. (2003). Propolis: lymphocyte proliferation and IFN- production. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 87, 9397. Retrieved October 19, 2005, from ScienceDirect database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.sciencedirect.com Sforcin, J.M., Orsi, R.O., & Bankova, V. (2005, April). Effects of propolis, some isolated compounds and its source plant on antibody production. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 98(3), 301-305. Retrieved September 19, 2005, from ScienceDirect database, On the World Wide Web: http://www.sciencedirect.com