Harnessing the medical benefits of bee propolis

MANILA, Philippines - Bees are famous for its huge contribution to the ecosystem as they are excellent pollinators of crops and wild plants.

Aside from the environment, bees are also beneficial to humans and animals because they are a good source of food and medicine.

The most common among bee products is honey,  which is composed of more than 200 substances like fructose, glucose, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, flavonoids and phenolic acids, and enzymes which are good energy and immune booster, anti-inflammatory agents and certified natural home remedy to treat various ailments such as sore throat, wounds, burns and cuts. 

Another wonder bee product that people are unfamiliar with is the propolis or bee glue. It is a resinous substance composed of gummy and balsamic material collected by bees from sprouts, flower buds, trees, and other vegetal-tissue resinous exudates which are used by the worker bees to repair their comb.

According to experts, the color appearance depends on the type of vegetation where it was collected by soldier bees and is usually ochre, red, brown, light brown or green in color.

But do you know that propolis has an exceptional use to both animals and humans?

Early studies show that, since the time of Hippocrates, propolis has been widely considered as a therapeutic agent.

Historical accounts show that propolis was also used by Egyptian priests for medicine, mummification and chemistry.

It was proven by various research that the ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP) exhibits some pharmacological activities such as cytostatic properties, anti-fungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anesthetic and anti-bacterial properties.

In Eastern European countries, propolis from Apis sp. Lin. was used as antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents in healing wounds and burns. The efficacy of ethanol propolis extract as topical treatment was also tested and it was found out that it is almost effective as the commercial anti-biotic, Nystatin against Candida albicans.

Despite the numerous scientific reports pertaining to the huge healing potential of honey and propolis, there were no local studies conducted to test and verify its therapeutic application. 

Groundbreaking research 

To investigate the clinical relevance and therapeutic application of local bee propolis as a rapid and effective healing agent, the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), headed by Dr. Ma. Amelita C. Estacio, implemented a project titled “Apitheraphy in Animals: Clinical Testing and Therapeutic Application of Formulated Bee Products as Anti-Microbial and Wound Healing Enhancing Agent Using Animal Models”.

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) supported the research project in 2012 which aimed to:

1) Compare the efficacy of EEP with the conventional antibiotic dressing in incisional wound healing.

2) Compare the efficacy of newly developed gamma-radiated propolis-alginate patch with the antibiotic-laden patch in incisional and sutured wounds.

3) Compare the efficacy of newly developed gamma-radiated honey-alginate patch with the antibiotic-laden patch in incisional and sutured wounds.

From verification to future application

During the research proper, the project team was able to obtain fresh bee propolis with the help of the UPLB Bee Program. The team was able to establish the minimum effective concentration of propolis for wound management and antimicrobial and wound healing activities of 30 percent ethanol extracted bee propolis (EEBP).

As one of the project components, the researchers were able to produce and develop wound patches and evaluated the healing properties of gamma-radiated honey and propolis-alginate wound patches with the assistance of Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI). 

In-vivo testing of the wound patches was also conducted in laboratory animals at UP College of Veterinary Medicine (UPVM) and preliminary testing also started in humans, particularly in PNRI and at tertiary hospitals in Quezon City like East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and Philippine Heart Center (PHC).

Based on the research results, it was  concluded that 30 percent EEBP from the Philippine stingless bee possesses antimicrobial property against certain bacteria and it promotes faster incisional wound healing in cats.

Furthermore, propolis-alginate dressing promotes faster and better healing of sutured and incisional wounds in mouse.

These results showed the potential of propolis-alginate dressing as an alternative product for wound healing management of animals and humans.

Due to the significant results, the project team conducted various commercialization activities through standardization of medical grade honey and propolis as well as the product development of wound patch.

Market prospecting was also initiated by the researchers by scouting partner veterinary and human pharmaceutical companies who may show interest in using or even distributing the new alternative products.

This particular research breakthrough will definitely capture the attention of various institutions such as medical and veterinary community, private and government hospitals, military, and pharmaceutical companies.

As the advantages and benefits of the products are realized, there will be an increasing demand for bee products, particularly the locally-produced propolis which will add commercial economic value and can further preserve and strengthen the Philippine apiculture industry.