Bee Propolis Ancient Cure for Today s Ailments By

Bee Propolis: Ancient Cure for Today’s Ailments By: Dana Catalfamo

Propolis n n n n Essentially the “glue” in bee hives. Made of plant resin. Preserves warmth in hive and keeps out microbes. Has various antimicrobial properties. Used for healing and part of “apitherapy”. Interesting uses including violin varnish. Used since the Ancient Greeks and Romans discovered it.

Propolis in the Hive (Kulincevica & Gacica, 1991)

Major Components n n n Caffeic acid phenethyl ether or CAPE. Phenolics Terpenes Hydrocarbons Acids Flavonoids

Properties of Propolis in General n n n Stimulates antibody production. Inhibits viral entry into CD 4 lymphocytes, especially against HIV-1. Increases effectiveness of antiviral drugs such as the reverse transcriptase inhibitor, zidovudine. Treats opportunistic infections that plague AIDS patients. Decreases lymphocyte proliferation when exposed to mitogens such as Con. A. Increases production of IFN-γ and activates macrophages.

Interesting Properties of CAPE n n Inhibits Nuclear Transcription Factor Kappa. B or NFκB, which drives T-cell proliferation and effector functions. Anti-inflammatory activity. Treats arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Inhibits IL-2 which also drives T-cell proliferation.

Different Geographical Samples of Propolis n n Not much of a difference in the effectiveness of propolis from different regions. Most common one studied is from Brazil and also from Bulgaria.

Increased Antibody Production n Propolis was shown to increase antibody production in rats immunized with bovine serum albumin, BSA. Acted as adjuvant. Enhanced the activity of macrophages.

Increased Antibody Production (Sforcin, Orsi, & Bankova, 2005)

Inhibition of NF-κB n n CAPE inhibited NF-κB binding to macrophages and decreased cytokine production. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-α, which stimulates macrophages to kill tumor cells was used to see if NFκB would bind. Anti-inflammatory activity. Macrophages underwent apoptosis in patients with IBD leading to healing of the injuries to the colon.

Inhibition of NF-κB (Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

CAPE Induces Apoptosis in Macrophages in Patients with IBD (Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

CAPE Reduces Injury to the Colon (Fitzpatrick, Wang, & Le, 2001)

Inhibition of IL-2 n n CAPE inhibited IL-2 leading to antiinflammatory activity. T-cell proliferation was inhibited in samples with Con-A, a mitogen, added.

Anti-viral Activity n n Viral entry of HIV-1 was inhibited in CD 4 lymphocytes. Effectiveness of the reverse transcriptase inhibitor, zidovudine, was increased. Virus was kept from proliferating. HUGE BREAKTHROUGH!!!!!

Propolis Decreased Viral Expression in CD 4 Cells (Gekker, Hu, Spivak, Lokensgard, & Peterson, 2005)

Propolis Increases Effectiveness of Anti-viral Drugs (Gekker et. al, 2005)

Treatment for AIDS Patients n n n Propolis treats opportunistic fungal infections such as thrush and leukoplakia. Kept infections from coming back and alleviated symptoms. Increased the immune response.

Increased Production of IFN-γ n n n Propolis increased IFN-γ production leading to the antigen being presented on cells and the immune response starting to clear it faster. Mitogen infected cells did not show proliferation that would normally happen. Kept mitogen from working.

Propolis Inhibits Mitogen Activity

Pharmacology n n No recommended dose. Capsules, liquid, lozenges, tablets, creams, gels, toothpastes, mouth rinses, and cough syrups. Well tolerated unless a person is allergic to a component of propolis. If allergic, hives result.

Summary n n n n Propolis is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Can be used to help AIDS patients. Controls inflammatory diseases. Increases effectiveness of immune system. Mechanisms are not known yet. HERBAL MEDICINE IS GOOD!! Ancient cure for today’s ailments.

Works Cited n n n Devillers, J. , & Pham-Delegue, M. (2002). Honey Bees: Estimating the Devillers, Pham-Delegue, Environmental Impact of Chemicals. New York: Taylor & Francis Inc. Chemicals. Ellis, H. (2004). Sweetness & Light. New York: Harmony Books. Light. Fitzpatrick, L. R. , Wang, J. , & Le, T. (2001 December). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, an inhibitor of nuclear factor-KB, attenuates bacterial peptidoglycan polysaccharide-induced colitis in rats. The Journal of Pharmacology and saccharide-induced Experimental Therapeutics, (299(3), 915 -920. Retrieved October 23, 2005, from Pub. Med database, On the World Wide Web: http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/entrez Gekker, G. , Hu, S. , Spivak, M. , Lokensgard, J. R. , & Peterson, P. K. (2005, May). Gekker, Hu, Spivak, Lokensgard, Anti-HIV-1 activity of propolis in CD 4+ lymphocyte and microglial cellcultures. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 102(1), 158 -163. cellcultures. Ethnopharmacology, Retrieved September 2, 2005, from Science. Direct database, On the World Wide Web: http: //www. sciencedirect. com Hubbell, S. (1988). A Book of Bees… and How to Keep Them. New York: Them. Random House Inc. James, J. S. (1987, July 31). Bee Propolis for Thrush, Fungus or Leukoplakia? AIDS Treatment News, 1(37), Retrieved September 19, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http: //www. aids. org/atn/a-037 -01. html Kulinčevića, J. & Gačića, R. (1991). Propolis. Retrieved November 14, 2005, Kulinčevića, Gačića, Propolis. from the World Wide Web: http: //www. pcelar. co. yu/propolis. htm Marquez, N. , Sancho, R. , Macho, A. , Calzado, M. A. , Fiebich, B. L. , & Munoz, E. Sancho, Calzado, Fiebich, (2003, November 14). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits t-cell activation by targeting both nuclear factor of activated t-cells and NF-KB transcription factors. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Fast Forward, 308(3), 993 -1001. Retrieved October 23, 2005, from Pub. Med Forward, database, On the World Wide Web: http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/entrez Parham, P. (2005). The Immune System. New York: Garland Science. System. Propolis. (2005). Retrieved September 19, 2005, from the World Wide Web: Propolis. http: //www. pdrhealth. com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/pro_0294. shtml Sa-Nunes, A. , Faccioli, L. H. , & Sforcin, J. M. (2003). Propolis: lymphocyte Sa-Nunes, Faccioli, Sforcin, proliferation and IFN-γ production. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 87, 93 Ethnopharmacology, 97. Retrieved October 19, 2005, from Science. Direct database, On the World Wide Web: http: //www. sciencedirect. com Sforcin, J. M. , Orsi, R. O. , & Bankova, V. (2005, April). Effects of propolis, some Sforcin, Orsi, Bankova, isolated compounds and its source plant on antibody production. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 98(3), 301 -305. Retrieved September 19, 2005, from Science. Direct database, On the World Wide Web: Ethnopharmacology, http: //www. sciencedirect. com