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WHAT IS PROPOLIS?
Propolis, also known as "Bee Glue", is a substance bees make from tree resin to seal and protect the hive from wind, rain, and predators
The word derives from the Greek: "pro" = at the entrance + "polis" = city
The exact composition varies depending on geographical regions, ie the climate and flora.
BENEFITS

Antiviral
"Propolis has long been used to treat viral infections and more recently tested for efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of COVID-19 [41]. Many disease-causing viruses are unresponsive to currently available antiviral drugs and may also evolve into more drug- and vaccine-resistant strains. Thus, it is critical to identify novel candidate antivirals, particularly from natural sources; as such compounds tend to have good safety profiles."
Antifungal
Anti-infammatory
Anticancer
"The study of the anticancer properties of propolis resulting from different bee species found in various geographical locations in the treatment of breast, colon, liver, lung, and pancreatic cancer cell lines has been extensively documented in recent years [24,47,48]. Some studies focused on the efficacy of anticancer therapy by evaluating the ability of cancer cells to initiate apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, which are the main mechanisms of the anticancer properties of propolis [24,47,49]. The diversity of chemical compounds of propolis highly affects its anticancer activity. The active ingredients of propolis, such as flavonoids, exhibit chemopreventive effects against most carcinogenesis. Other active compounds of propolis with anticancer and antiproliferative properties include apigenin, caffeic acid, CAPE, ferulic acid, galangin, luteolin, myricetin, pinocembrin, and quercetin [50,51]. Propolis also acts as pro-apoptotic protein, activates the caspase cascade mechanisms, and releases cytochrome C from the mitochondria into the cytosol in order to target molecules that are important in apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway [39].
In addition, propolis has been shown to exhibit synergistic effects in radiation and chemotherapy medications for breast cancer [50]. Overall, propolis reduces proliferation, triggers apoptosis, prevents metastases, and inhibits the progression of the cell cycle [50]. Vatansever et al. showed that bioactive components such as caffeic acid and galangin in Turkish propolis have antiproliferative effects on breast cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer cells, where compounds promote apoptosis and inhibit proliferation by reducing the viability of cancer cells [52]. The same results were observed for propolis from Indonesia, Greece, and Serbia [50,51], where luteolin and myricetin were exposed to breast cancer cells, with these compounds exhibiting consistent cytotoxic activity. Meanwhile, galangin is one of the most abundant flavonoids in propolis from Algeria and Brazil and plays an important role in controlling cell migration and cell adhesion as well as inducing lung cancer cells [53,54]. Caffeic acid and its derivatives found in Algerian propolis also present anticancer and antiproliferative activities [53,55]. It was also discovered that Chinese propolis enhances cell cycle arrest and causes apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells [56]. In addition, the artepillin C, CAPE, galangin, kaempferol, and quercetin found in Chinese, Brazilian, Korean propolis exhibit strong antiangiogenic properties which help to prevent inflammation and cancer [57,58].
Ebeid et al. described a clinical test featuring propolis on a group of 135 patients diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy, where the participants were split into three groups and subjected to different tests in order to compare their specific reactivity on propolis supplementation based on age range, menopausal status, and radiotherapy [59]. A significant decrease in radiation-induced DNA damage was reported in concerning the group of patients who underwent radiotherapy and received propolis supplementation due to the ionizing radiation of leukocytes from breast cancer patients. This study therefore suggested that propolis helps to boost the efficiency of serum to neutralize free radicals as well as the effect the way in which iron is absorbed by the body and hemoglobin is produced [59]. Piredda et al. investigated the tolerability, safety, and adherence of propolis in breast cancer patients taking medications as well as the effect of propolis on preventing oral mucositis, and it was demonstrated that the combination of propolis and bicarbonate prevented oral mucositis in breast cancer patients [60]. Darvishi et al. conducted a clinical trial to compare the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of a propolis supplement to cancer patients receiving chemotherapy [61]. Patients in the placebo group significantly increased their levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor, which is a biomarker of oxidative stress, while patients with propolis supplementation did not show a significant increase in their pro-inflammatory cytokines levels, but their pro-oxidant antioxidant balance was decreased."
Antimicrobial
"Novel active anti-microbial compounds have been identified in propolis. Those compounds positively modulated the antimicrobial resistance of multidrug resistant bacteria. Published research has indicated that propolis and its derivatives has many natural antimicrobial compounds with a broad spectrum against different types of bacteria and that it enhanced the efficacy of conventional antibiotics. Besides, the combination of propolis with other compounds such as honey has been studied whereby, such combinations have a synergistic effect against bacterial strains such asEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureus."
Neuroprotective
"Several key themes where propolis is potentially useful were subsequently identified, namely detoxification, neuroinflammation, ischemia/ischemia-reperfusion injury/traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy models, depression, cytotoxicity, cognitive improvement, regenerative medicine, brain infection, and adverse effects. In conclusion, propolis is shown to have protective and therapeutic benefits in alleviating symptoms of brain and neurological disorders and injuries, demonstrated by various in vitro studies, animal models, and human clinical trials."
Antioxidant
"The aforementionedin vitroand animal studies seem to confirm the usefulness of using bee products (propolis, bee pollen, and royal jelly) as natural agents capable of counteracting the effects of oxidative stress underlying the pathogenesis of numerous diseases or disorders, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, as well as negative effects of different harmful factors and drugs (e.g., cytostatic agents)."
CHECK OUT THIS TABLE FROM THE NIH ON OUTCOME EFFECTS ON VARIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND DISEASE

WHAT MAKES PROPOLIS SO SPECIAL?
Polyphenols + Flavonoids
Propolis is a great source of Polyphenols, but Propolis from Greece has high levels of Flavonoids and Terpenes, which is a result of the flora and climate of Greece.
Flavonoids are the incredibly healthy and natural compounds that give propolis the anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and anti-oxidant properties.
left: Flavonoid chemical structure

HOW TO USE IT
Propolis comes in several forms:
Hand Creams - for dry skin, on wounds to promote healing, insect bites, can help sore joints.
Lip Balm - moisturizes and helps heal cracked lips.
Tinctures - can be added to beverages or dropped straight into the mouth to help immune system and fight cancer.
Raw - can be chewed or brewed in tea to promote anti-cancerous growth in the mouth and throat.

PROPOLIS: HOW THE ANCIENTS USED IT
Egyptians – embalmed carcasses for mummification
Greeks – treated abscesses, mouth disinfectant and antiseptic for wounds
Assyrians – treated wounds and tumors to fight infection + promote healing
Incas - used to reduce fevers (antipyretic)
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