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What is Propolis?
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Propolis is a
substance made by the honeybee
that provides protection against
harmful bacteria, viruses and
fungi. Propolis is plant resin
collected by bees for use in and
around the hive. In plants it
is usually the sticky coating
around buds that serves to
protect them from the elements
of weather plus from attack by
bacteria, fungi, molds, and
viruses. These are properties
that are useful to the bees and
are enhanced by the sticky
properties of the propolis.
Like pollen, propolis is a bee
product that cannot be clearly
defined and varies from sample
to sample. This is a natural
outcome of the collection
process. Propolis collecting
bees will use resins from a
large variety of tree and other
plant species, and these
naturally will differ in their
qualitative and quantitative
chemical composition.
Nevertheless, different propolis
samples do share considerable
similarity in their physical and
overall general chemical nature.
Hundreds of
chemical compounds have been
identified from propolis. The
main chemical classes present in
propolis are flavonoids,
phenolics, and various aromatic
compounds. Propolis also
contains some volatile oils,
terpenes, and beeswax, but these
compounds are not believed to
contribute as significantly to
the chemical properties and
effects of propolis.
Flavonoids are
well-known plant compounds that
have antioxidant,
anti-bacterial, anti-fungal,
anti-viral, and
anti-inflammatory properties.
Other properties of propolis
include acting as a local
anesthetic, reducing spasms,
healing gastric ulcers, and
strengthening capillaries.
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