Propolis Artikel Utama Majalah Trubus No.482 Januari 2010

propolis

Propolis

• Atasi 30 Penyakit

• Terbukti Secara Ilmiah

Peti mati dan lokasi pemakaman Tarsisius Sarbini sudah disiapkan. Kondisi pria 61 tahun itu memburuk akibat penyakit jantung koroner. Dokter menawarkan operasi by pass untuk mengatasi pencabut nyawa nomor wahid itu, tetapi keluarga menolak.

Bagi pasangan Tarsisius Sarbini dan Sri Subekti yang berprofesi guru, biaya operasi Rp150-juta itu sangat mahal. ‘Jika rumah saya jual juga tak menyelesaikan masalah. Saya tak mau menyengsarakan anak-istri,’ kata Sarbini yang merokok sejak 1970 dan menghabiskan 3 bungkus setiap hari mulai 1985 hingga 1995. Apalagi menurut dokter yang merawat peluang sembuh setelah operasi hanya 50%. Dalam kondisi pasrah itu sebuah peti mati pun disiapkan.

Tak ada pilihan lain bagi Sri Subekti selain harus membawa suami kembali ke rumah. Pada 5 September 2005 itu mereka meninggalkan rumahsakit di Bandung dan pulang ke Depok, Jawa Barat. Pria kelahiran Banyumas, Jawa Tengah, 14 Maret 1944 itu hanya terbaring. Seluruh aktivitasnya dilangsungkan di atas tempat tidur. Keluarga bagai menanti dentang lonceng kematian Sarbini.

Pertahanan kota

Jauh sebelum disarankan operasi, Sarbini berupaya keras mencari kesembuhan. Ia mengkonsumsi beragam herbal. Sekadar menyebut contoh ia rutin minum segelas rebusan daun keluwih Artocarpus altilis. Lama konsumsi 3 bulan, belum juga membawa perubahan. Ia juga disiplin menelan 9 jenis obat yang diresepkan dokter 3 kali sehari, tetapi 7 sumbatan di jantung belum juga teratasi.

Beberapa hari setelah tiba di rumah, H Anwar, orangtua dari murid yang ia didik, menyodorkan propolis. Sarbini pun patuh dan mengkonsumsi propolis 3 kali sehari. Tiga jenis obat dari dokter – sama dengan yang di konsumsi sebelumnya – ia telan 1 jam setelah menelan propolis. Sepekan berselang, pria 65 tahun itu merasakan khasiatnya. ‘Saya bisa berjalan 5 meter dan mengangkat gayung,’ kata Sarbini.

Itu kemajuan luar biasa. Sebelumnya, jangankan berjalan, bangkit dari tidur pun ia tak mampu. Dada yang semula sakit seperti ditusuk-tusuk pisau, intensitasnya kian berkurang. Keruan saja istri dan keluarganya senang bukan kepalang. Sebulan kemudian ia merasa sangat bugar. Saat ditemui Trubus di rumahnya pada 16 Desember 2009, Sarbini tampak gagah.

Aktivitasnya jalan sehat ketika pagi dan mengajar pada siang hingga sore hari. Singkat kata keluhan-keluhan yang dulu ia rasakan, hilang sama sekali. Kesembuhannya memang belum ia buktikan melalui pemeriksaan medis. Setelah kondisinya membaik, 4 tahun terakhir Sarbini belum memeriksakan jantung lantaran biaya relatif mahal, mencapai Rp25-juta.

Menurut dr Robert Hatibi di Jakarta sembuhnya Sarbini dari penyumbatan pembuluh darah jantung karena kemampuan propolis mengikat radikal bebas sehingga sumbatan terkikis. Sumbatan itu akibat nikotin dalam rokok yang menebalkan dinding pembuluh darah di jantung. Selain mengikis, ‘Propolis juga menjaga kemudian mempertahankan elastisitas dan daya kapilaritas aorta serta vena jantung,’ kata Hatibi.

Mumi

Propolis yang dikonsumsi Sarbini merupakan produk yang dihasilkan lebah. Spesies yang banyak diternakkan adalah Apis cerana dan Apis mellifera. Propolis berbeda dengan madu, produk utama lebah. Madu terdapat di dalam sarang heksagonal; propolis di luar sarang. Pada sarang buatan berupa kotak kayu, lebah-lebah pekerja meletakkan propolis di celah antarpapan, bingkai, atau tutup sarang.

Ir Hotnida CH Siregar MSi, ahli lebah dari Institut Pertanian Bogor mengatakan lebah pekerja mengolah propolis dari berbagai bahan seperti pucuk daun, getah tumbuhan, dan kulit beragam tumbuhan seperti akasia dan pinus. Menurut Dolok Tinanda Haposan Sihombing, ahli lebah dari Institut Pertanian Bogor, propolis merupakan bahan campuran kompleks terdiri atas malam, resin, balsam, minyak, dan polen.

Kata propolis berasal dari bahasa Yunani: pro berarti sebelum, polis bermakna kota. Kota dalam kehidupan serangga sosial itu adalah sarang. Secara harfiah propolis bermakna sebelum sampai kota. Bagi lebah propolis bermanfaat menambal celah-celah sarang, menutup lubang, dan mensterilkan sarang. ‘Kota’ lebah selalu dalam kondisi steril berkat propolis.

Hotnida mengatakan fungsi propolis lain adalah membungkus atau memumikan bangkai hama yang masuk ke sarang lebah. Dengan demikian propolis menghentikan pertumbuhan dan penyebaran bakteri, cendawan, dan virus sehingga penyakit tak tersebar dan sarang tetap steril. Hama yang dibungkus dengan propolis pun menjadi awet dan tak busuk lantaran propolis bersifat antibakteri. Metode itulah yang ditiru oleh nenek moyang bangsa Mesir untuk mengawetkan jenazah.

Menurut Ir Bambang Soekartiko, pemilik Bina Apiari, kualitas propolis tergantung dari sumber tanaman dan proses pembuatan. Tanaman sumber propolis di negara subtropis seperti Bulgaria, Korea, dan Rusia adalah pohon poplar Populus sp. Brasil mempunyai Bacharis dracunculifolia dan Dalbergia sp masing-masing sebagai sumber propolis hijau dan merah yang mempunyai bioflavonoid tinggi. Brasil sohor sebagai negara utama produsen propolis di dunia.

Produknya yang terkenal adalah propolis hijau bermutu tinggi karena kandungan bioflavonoid yang tinggi. Flavonoid merupakan komponen tumbuhan yang bersifat sebagai bahan-bahan anticendawan, antibakteri, antivirus, antioksidan, dan antiinflamasi. ‘Di Indonesia belum ada penelitian jenis tanaman sumber propolis yang kandungan bioflavonoid tinggi,’ kata Soekartiko (baca: Rahasia dalam Sebuah Sarang halaman 25).

Kotoran?

Warna propolis beragam, meski pada umumnya cokelat gelap. Namun, kadang-kadang ditemukan juga propolis berwarna hijau, merah, hitam, bahkan putih tergantung dari sumber resin. Produksi propolis relatif kecil, 20 gram setahun dari 200.000 lebah. Karena warnanya yang cenderung gelap itulah banyak peternak lebah menganggap propolis sebagai kotoran.

Apalagi para peternak itu juga belum mengetahui khasiat propolis. Oleh karena itu mereka justru membuang propolis dari sarang karena menganggap kotor. Padahal, untuk memanen propolis, relatif mudah. Peternak mengerok secara hati-hati dan mengekstraknya (baca: Kuncinya pada Pelarut halaman 20). Nah, karena jarang dilirik peternak, maka penggunaan propolis untuk kesehatan kalah populer ketimbang produk lebah lain seperti madu dan royal jeli. Peternak lebah di Amerika Serikat juga menganggap propolis sebagai bahan pengganggu. Propolis melekat di tangan, pakaian, dan sepatu ketika cuaca panas serta berubah keras dan berkerak ketika dingin.

Padahal, harga propolis jauh lebih mahal daripada madu. Saat ini di Indonesia harga propolis di tingkat peternak mencapai Rp700.000; madu, Rp35.000 per kg. Baru pada akhir 1990-an propolis dilirik sebagai bahan berkhasiat ketika Jepang meriset lem lebah untuk kesehatan. Takagi Y dari Sekolah Kesehatan Universitas Suzuka membuktikan keampuhan propolis meningkatkan sistem imunitas tubuh. Riset lain dari University of Japan membuktikan bahwa propolis mengurangi risiko sakit gigi. Dari pembuktian ilmiah itulah penggunaan propolis sohor di Jepang.

Riset ilmiah

Seiring dengan tren pemanfaatan propolis, para periset menguji ilmiah lem lebah itu. Dra Mulyati Sarto MSi, peneliti di Fakultas Biologi Universitas Gadjah Mada, membuktikan bahwa propolis sangat aman dikonsumsi. Dalam uji praklinis, Mulyati membuktikan LD₅₀ propolis mencapai lebih dari 10.000 mg. LD₅₀ adalah lethal dosage alias dosis yang mematikan separuh hewan percobaan.

Jika dikonversi, dosis itu setara 7 ons sekali konsumsi untuk manusia berbobot 70 kg. Faktanya, dosis konsumsi propolis di masyarakat amat rendah, hanya 1 – 2 tetes dalam segelas air minum. Dosis penggunaan lain pun hanya 1 sendok makan dilarutkan dalam 50 ml air.

‘Tingkat toksisitas propolis sangat rendah, jika tak boleh dibilang tidak toksik,’ kata Mulyati. Bagaimana efek konsumsi dalam jangka panjang? Master Biologi alumnus Universitas Gadjah Mada itu juga menguji toksisitas subkronik. Hasilnya konsumsi propolis dalam jangka panjang tak menimbulkan kerusakan pada darah, organ hati, dan ginjal. Dua uji ilmiah itu – toksisitas akut dan toksisitas subkronik – membuktikan bahan suplemen purba itu sangat aman dikonsumsi.

Propolis itu pula yang dikonsumsi Evie Sri, kepala Sekolah Dasar Negeri Kertajaya 4 Surabaya, untuk mengatasi kanker payudara stadium IV. Evie akhirnya sembuh dari penyakit mematikan itu. Kesembuhannya selaras dengan riset Prof Dr Mustofa MKes, peneliti di Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Gadjah Mada, yang meriset in vitro propolis sebagai antikanker. Sang guru besar menggunakan sel HeLa dan Siha – keduanya sel kanker serviks – serta T47D dan MCF7 (sel kanker payudara).

Selain itu ia juga menguji in vivo pada mencit yang diinduksi 20 mg dimethilbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), senyawa karsinogenik pemicu sel kanker. Frekuensi pemberian 2 kali sepekan selama 5 minggu. Hasil riset menunjukkan propolis mempunyai efek sitotoksik pada sel kanker. Nilai IC₅₀ pada uji in vitro mencapai 20 – 41 ?g/ml. IC₅₀ adalah inhibition consentration alias konsentrasi penghambatan propolis terhadap sel kanker.

Untuk menghambat separuh sel uji coba, hanya perlu 20 – 41 ?g/ml. Angka itu setara 0,02 – 0,041 ppm. Bandingkan dengan tokoferol yang paling top sebagai antioksidan. Nilai IC₅₀ tokoferol cuma 4 – 8 ppm. Artinya ntuk menghambat radikal bebas dengan propolis perlu lebih sedikit dosis ketimbang tokoferol. Dengan kata lain nilai antioksidan propolis jauh lebih besar daripada tokoferol.

Pada uji in vivo, propolis berefek antiproliferasi. Proliferasi adalah pertumbuhan sel kanker yang tak terkendali sehingga berhasil membentuk kelompok. Dari kelompok itu muncul sel yang lepas dari induknya dan hidup mandiri dengan ‘merantau’ ke jaringan lain. Antiproliferasi berarti propolis mampu menghambat pertumbuhan sel kanker.

‘Terjadi penurunan volume dan jumlah nodul kanker pada tikus yang diberi 0,3 ml dan 1,2 ml propolis,’ ujar dr Woro Rukmi Pratiwi MKes, SpPD, anggota tim riset. Dalam penelitian itu belum diketahui senyawa aktif dalam propolis yang bersifat antikanker. Namun, menurut dr Ivan Hoesada di Semarang, Jawa Tengah, senyawa yang bersifat antikanker adalah asam caffeat fenetil ester.

Terpadu

Banyak bukti empiris yang menunjukkan penderita-penderita penyakit maut sembuh setelah konsumsi propolis. ‘Penyakitnya berat yang dokter spesialis sudah pasrah,’ kata dr Ivan. Sekadar menyebut beberapa contoh adalah Siti Latifah yang mengidap stroke, Wiwik Sudarwati (gagal ginja), dan Rohaya (diabetes mellitus). Menurut dr Hafuan Lutfie MBA mekanisme kerja propolis sangat terpadu. Dalam menghadapi sel kanker, misalnya, propolis bersifat antiinflamasi alias antiperadangan dan anastesi atau mengurangi rasa sakit.

Yang lebih penting propolis menstimuli daya tahan tubuh. ‘Tubuh diberdayakan agar imunitas bekerja sehingga mampu memerangi penyakit,’ kata Lutfie, dokter alumnus Universitas Sriwjaya. Kemampuan propolis meningkatkan daya tahan tubuh disebut imunomodulator. Dr dr Eko Budi Koendhori MKes dari Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Airlangga membuktikan peningkatan kekebalan tubuh tikus yang diberi propolis. Biasanya infeksi Mycobacterium tuberculosis – bakteri penyebab tuberkulosis (TB) – menurunkan kekebalan tubuh dengan indikasi anjloknya interferon gamma dan meningkatkan interleukin 10 dan TGF. Interferon gamma adalah senyawa yang diproduksi oleh sel imun atau sel T yang mengaktifkan sel makrofag untuk membunuh kuman TB. Interleukin dan TGF merupakan senyawa penghambat interferon gamma.

Doktor ahli tuberkulosis itu membuktikan interferon gamma tikus yang diberi propolis cenderung meningkat hingga pekan ke-12. Sebaliknya interleukin 10 justru tak menunjukkan perbedaan bermakna. ‘Pemberian propolis pada mencit yang terinfeksi TB mampu mengurangi kerusakan pada paru-paru dengan cara meningkatkan sistem imun tubuh,’ kata dr Eko.

(Sardi Duryatmo/Peliput: Argohartono, Nesia Artdiyasa, & Tri Susanti)

Sumber:http://www.trubus–online.co.id

Yong Kun Park; Severino Matias de Alencar; Fabiana Fonseca de Moura & Masaharu Ikegaki.

The origin of the man’s knowledge on the nutritious, healing and prophylactic virtues of the products of the bees is plenty of curiosity and interest.

Practically all the ancient civilizations with their millenarian therapies knew and used the products of the bees as a valuable resource in its medicine. The histories of the medicine of the Chinese, Tibetan, Egyptian and Greco-Roman civilizations are also rich, containing in their old writings, hundreds of recipes based mainly on honey, Propolis, bee larvae and sometimes the own bees, to cure or to prevent illnesses. From the Hebraic Civilization, the Holly Bible, in some texts, exalts and ennobles the nutritious and medical properties of the honey. Some other texts refer to the Propolis as ” The balm of Gileade “, that was used to cure wounds, reaching high prices in the market of that time. In Japan, the use of the Propolis took a great pushing in 1985, after the accomplishment of XXX International Congress of APIMONDIA in the city of Nagoya. Nowadays, Japan is the principal consumer of Propolis.

In the last two decades it has been observed a major interest on the products of the species Apis Mellifera bees, as honey, royal jelly, apitoxin, pollen and Propolis. These products have been of great acceptance, mainly for its therapeutic properties, originating a new ramify of the alternative medicine, denominated Apitherapy. Among the several bee products, Propolis has been highlighted due to its several therapeutic and biological properties, mentioned in several scientific works, all over the world.

Propolis is a balm-resinous substance that possesses several consistence and coloration, varying from brown to dark green. Bees collect it from several parts of the plants as sprouts, floral buttons and resinous exudates, being transported inside of the beehive and modified by the bees through its own enzymes. This substance is used by the bees in the entrance of the beehives in order to close openings, to avoid the penetration of cold wind and, mainly to prevent from natural enemies (fungus and bacteriae), besides being used to embalm small dead animals, killed by the bees, which could not be removed, thus avoiding their rotting. Propolis is also used as a construction material inside the beehive, welding honeycombs, frames and polishing the interior of the alveoli for the queen to do the posture.

” Biological and/or Pharmacological Activities “

Some studies have been made, among the groups selected according to the methods described above, for the determination of the physiologic activity, such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral and anticancer.

The therapeutic properties of Propolis have been motivating isolation researches, identification of chemical compounds, and the possible relationship of these with its biological activity. The presence of several phenolic compounds explains, partly, the great variety of the biological and therapeutic properties told in the literature, mainly in the last 3 decades. In the figures 1 and 2, some biological and therapeutic properties described in the literature can be seen.

Antibiotic: The antibiotic activity, in vitro, of the Propolis was verified from several lineages Gram positive bacteriae (Bacillus brevis, B.polymyxa, B.pumilus, B. sphaericus, B. subtilis, Cellulomonas fimi, Nocardia globerula, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis) and Gram negatives (Aerobacter aerogenes, Alcaligenes sp., Bordetella bronchiseptica, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens). Researches accomplished at our laboratory have been proving a high antibiotic strength, against certain bacteriae, like Staphylococcus aureus and Sptreptococcus mutans. Some of those Propolis samples presented high concentrations of the flavonoids galangine and pinocembrine, which are considered to be antimicrobial agents.

Anti-inflammatory Activity: Another biological activity attributed to the Propolis is related to its anti-inflammatory action. Several mechanisms are related to the inflammatory processes, resulting in problems as arthritis reumathoid and artrosis or even the formation of edemas and pain sensation. There are reports in the literature, of the usage with success, of ethanolic extracts of Propolis in laboratorial tests, in vitro and alive in. In several models in vitro, Propolis presented an inhibition of the plaquetary aggregation and of the eicosanoid synthesis, suggesting that it possesses a powerful anti-inflammatory activity. In experiments using guinea pigs was verified that the Propolis extracts presented a result comparable to the pattern commonly gotten, when using a drug like Diclofenac (Khayyal et al., 1993). Another work using ethanolic extract of Propolis was accomplished at our laboratory, where there were evaluated different concentrations of alcohol for the preparation of the extracts and its relationship with inhibition of an enzyme called hialuronidase, that is responsible for a lot of the inflammatory processes, presently known.   Propolis, in those tests was observed to inhibite, in a considerable way, the activity of this enzyme. The ideal concentration of ethanol, for the preparation of the extract that presented the largest inhibition was 80%.

Antioxidant activity: The oxidation of a certain material (as a piece of iron, fatty, or even human tissue) is related, mainly, to its degradation and/or deterioration. In the human body the oxidation is linked to the ageing process, mutation of the genetic material and of the degradation of the alive tissue. The responsible compositions for that malicious action are known as free radicals. In the nature, several substances fight those existing radicals, as the Vitamin C and the Vitamin E among others. Recently, Propolis has been studied as an alternative to combat that oxidation. Its chemical composition, formed essentially by phenolic compounds suggests us to believe that it is a product with great antioxidant strength, once those compositions are known as such. In laboratory, some studies showed that one of the compositions present in Propolis, known as CAPE, acts as an excellent antioxidant, thus inhibiting the formation of free radicals (Jaiswal et al., 1997). In our laboratory, studies were also carried out about the antioxidant activity of Propolis: the results were very satisfactory because Propolis inhibited the oxidation of a reaction mixture formed by b-carotene and linoleic acid, in almost 95%.

Anti-fungal: Some authors demonstrated that among other activities, Propolis has antimicotic action due to cynamic acid and a flavonoid named crisina. There are reports in the literature that a 50% Propolis ointment cured with no return, 97 of 110 patients with Kerion on the scalp. In addition, other authors verified that the ethanolic extract of Propolis has demonstrated an inhibitory activity on 17 dermatofite stumps, and also showed that Propolis formulation with propylene glycol was same or superior to the one of the antifungae medications against the mushrooms M. kennels, T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and Scopulariopsis. Ghaly et. al. (1998) verified recently that the ethanolic extract of Propolis at 3 and 4 grams per liter, reduced the germination percentage and the production of aflatoxin from mushroom Aspergillus flavus.

Anesthetic: There are in the literature several reports on the anesthetic effect of Propolis. Ghisalberti (1979) reports that Propolis extract was capable to produce a total anesthetic effect in corneas of rabbits. The ethanolic extract of Propolis (40g in 100 ml of ethanol 70%), was reported to be 3-5 times stronger than the cocaine used as an anesthetic, which was introduced in dental practice, in the old Soviet Union, in 1953.

Antiprotozoa: The antiprotozoa activity of the Propolis was confirmed in inflammations provoked by Trichomomas vaginalis (Scheller et.al., 1977). Later on, the effect of the Propolis extract was verified on the growth, in vitro, of the protozoan Giardia lamblia, which presented an inhibitory effect of 98% (Towers et. al., 1990). Considering the perspectives of the Propolis and its anti-protozoan activity, there is a lot to study and to know about the Propolis.

Antiviral: The researches have been showing a positive effect of the Propolis on the virulence and the duplication of some virus lineages, such as: herpes, adeno virus, corona virus, and rota virus. Besides, the effect in vitro of the Propolis was already investigated on several viruses as herpes simplex types 1 and 2, mutant resistant to aciclovir, adenovirus type 2, virus of the vesicular estomatite and poliovirus type 2.

Anticancer: There are in the literature some works telling on anticancer activity of Propolis extracts. Compounds derived of cynamic acid and other, known as terpenoids showed good citotoxic activity. Our studies have been demonstrating that certain Propolis groups (among the 12 classified until the moment) obstructed the growth of cancerous cells in laboratory experiments. In this study, these 12 types of Propolis were placed in contact with different cancerous cells, of the intestine, kidney, sucks, nose and pharynx. After two weeks, enough time so that the cells reproduced and grew, ten samples had presented, in different degrees, not just inhibition of the growth, but partial destruction of the cells. The method of calculation of inhibition of tumors used in the study had, as comparison base, the results obtained by the drug Etoposide, the most powerful existing to combat the cancer. That method was developed by the National Institute of Cancer of the USA. When compared with the drug test, Etoposide, a pattern of different performance can be observed, suggesting, in that way, the existence of new citotoxic principles in the composition of the studied Propolis.

Source : Published on “Revista OESP – Alimentação” n° 27 de novembro/dezembro de 1.999.

Propolis is produced by bees and is used as a construction material in bee hives. To protect the hive and its nutritious contents from attack by micro-organisms, propolis has anti-microbial properties. Propolis is comprised of a complex of chemicals (especially flavonoids), which play a role as antiviral and antibacterial agents.

Propolis for Herpes

When propolis was administered to various laboratory animals and to Vero cells in vitro (in laboratory cultures) significant inhibitory effects against HSV-1 were found. Propolis (5%) prevented development of symptoms of intraperitoneal HSV-1 infection in rats and corneal HSV-1 infection in rabbits.

In one study, 90 men and women with recurrent genital HSV2 were divided into two groups to compare the healing ability of propolis ointment versus acyclovir ointment and placebo. At day 10, 80 percent of patients in the propolis group had healed versus 47 percent in the acyclovir group and 40 percent in the placebo group.

Human trials as an internal anti-viral agent have not been done. Based on successful laboratory and animal studies, and successful use as a topical agent on herpes lesions, it is hypothesized that it may be beneficial as an oral anti-viral agent in humans as well.

Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Viral Properties of Propolis

The early research on propolis was mostly done in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Laboratory tests demonstrated that propolis on its own is effective against over 20 kinds of bacteria. Clinical studies also demonstrated that propolis was effective against various kinds of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Dr. Kravcuk of Kiev found that propolis was effective against sore throats and dry coughs in 90% of 260 patients. A recent study by Serkedjieva, et al, showed that the active ingredients in propolis significantly inhibited the Hong Kong flu virus. In a recent study, Egyptian researchers examined two types of propolis and found they exhibited antibacterial activity against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as well as the fungus candida albicans. In a March 2004 article in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, an herbal formula containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C was tested on 430 children in a double blind placebo controlled study. The group treated with the herbal formula a 55 percent reduction in the number of illness episodes compared with the placebo group. In treated children, the mean number of episodes per child was decreased by half and the mean number of days each child suffered from a fever was reduced by 62 percent.

The antibacterial properties of propolis appear to be due to multiple mechanisms. Propolis inhibits bacterial growth by preventing cell division. It also disorganizes bacterial cytoplasm, cell membranes, and cell walls. Propolis causes partial bacteriolysis and inhibits protein synthesis. In addition, propolis appears to enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics such as penicillin and streptomycin.

Propolis and Immune Enhancement

In addition to providing direct anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects, Propolis also stimulates the bodys immune system. Propolis significantly activates macrophages, which play an important role in infection prevention. In addition, it can significantly inhibit lipoxygenase activity, thereby inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis and producing anti-inflammatory effects.

Propolis in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

Propolis may also have value in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), one of the active ingredients in propolis, has been shown to prevent cancer formation in animal models. It also showed strong cancer inhibitory effects against several colon cancers, melanoma and glioblastoma. Propolis inhibits cancer cell growth by increasing the process of apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Propolis and Ulcers

Propolis has been reported to be effective in the treatment of Ulcers. In a clinical study involving 294 patients Dr. Franz K. Feiks, in Austria found that 90% of 108 ulcer patients given propolis were free of symptoms after two weeks, compared to only 55% of 186 conventionally treated patients. Dr. Feiks also noticed that 70% of the propolis group obtained relief in three days, compared to only 10% of the group receiving conventional medication.

Propolis Safety

No side effects have been reported for propolis. The LD50 (the dose causing half of the tested animals to die) for propolis is 7.34 g/Kg body weight in mice. Thats close to 50 gm of propolis for a 160 pound person. Propolis has also been reported to be non-irritating and safe for topical use.