Advances in the phytochemical screening and biological potential of propolis

• Published in: Fundamental & clinical pharmacology Vol. 37; no. 5; pp. 886 - 899
• Main Authors: de Almeida‐Junior, Silvio, Ferraz, Matheus Vitor Ferreira, de Oliveira, Alex Roberto, Maniglia, Fabíola Pansani, Bastos, Jairo Kenupp, Furtado, Ricardo Andrade
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Aldehydes; Analgesics; Beeswax; Biological activity; Bioprocessing; Esters; Flavonoids; Inflammation; Literature reviews; Nanotechnology; Pharmacology; Phenolic acids; Phenols; Phytochemicals; Pollen; Propolis; Resins; Secretions; anti-inflammatory; antimicrobial; antioxidant; antitumor; clinical safety; analgesia
• ISSN: 0767-3981; 1472-8206; 1472-8206
• DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12898

Propolis is a natural resinous product collected from different parts of plants by bees and mixed with their salivary secretions. The occurrence of more than 180 different chemotypes has flavonoids, phenolic acids, esters, and phenolic aldehydes, as well as balsamic resins, beeswax, pollen, and essential and aromatic oils, among others. Its biological potential documented throughout the world justifies the need, from time to time, to organize reviews on the subject, with the intention of gathering and informing about the update on propolis. In this review (CRD42020212971), phytochemical advances, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical biological assays of pharmacological interest are showcased. The focus of this work is to present propolis clinical safety assays, antitumor, analgesic, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. This literature review highlights propolis' promising biological activity, as it also suggests that studies associating propolis with nanotechnology should be further explored for enhanced bioprocessing applications.