Honey products & their benefits in Covid-19 times-Propolis-Part VI

Another honey bee product that has tremendous health benefits is Propolis. It is a resin like sticky substance collected from the flower buds and bark of the trees. The bees collect these as glue to seal the holes and gaps in their hive and make the hive sterile. This is done to protect the hive from microbes, fungi, and mold as propolis is potent chemically to destroy these aforementioned pathogens. Honey Bees also uses propolis to embalm and mummify, too heavy to move, the killed invader insects.

Extensively used in food and beverages, Bee propolis benefits improving human health. Propolis has over 300 natural compounds namely:

  • Phenolic aldehydes
  • Polyphenols
  • Sequiterpene-quinones
  • Aminoacids
  • Coumarins
  • Steroids
  • Inorganic compounds

Consisting of broad spectrum biological and pharmacological properties propolis is antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-aging-inflammatory, antitumor, antiulcer, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and immunomodulator in nature.

The chemical composition and beneficial properties of propolis depends on the seasonal collection as well as phytogeographical areas along with botanical source.

Most abundant source of polyphenols (flavonoids and phenolic acids), propolis has an important role to play as it protects neural cells from oxidative stress.