Própolis: Uma Revisão Dos Recentes Estudos De Suas Propriedades Farmacológicas

Abstract

RESUMO Própolis de Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) é um produto da colméia, elaborado a partir de exsudatos de resinas que as abelhas recolhem de determinadas plantas. A composição química da própolis é complexa e relacionada à diversidade vegetal encontrada em torno da colméia. Embora a própolis seja utilizada em medicina popular por milhares de anos, a falta de padrões que avaliem de maneira precisa suas atividades farmacológicas, dificulta a estandardização de produtos comerciais que garanta sua eficácia e segurança terapêutica para humanos e outros animais. Nesta revisão estão sumarizados alguns desenvolvimentos recentes da pesquisa farmacológica da própolis, enfocando-se as atividades antiinflamatórias, antimicrobianas, antineoplásica e antioxidante.

Caffeic acid: a review of its potential use in medications and cosmetics

“…Several components of propolis have been analysed in different countries, and caffeic acid, phenethyl ester of caffeic acid and avonoids are the main ingredients responsible for the antibiotic power of this resin. [68][69][70] Thus, a thorough search of the antimicrobial activity of caffeic acid is promising targeting the treatment of dermal diseases, such as acne. Some phenylpropanoids, including caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, are able to inhibit the growth of bacteria, including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and some yeasts.…”

Potential of propolis antifungal activity for clinical applications

“…The chemical composition of propolis is extremely diverse, varying according to its geographical origin and the local flora (Bankova, 2005; Ghisalberti, 1979; Hausen et al, 1992). However, in general, this natural product consists of about 50% of plant resins and balms, 30% of beeswax, 10% of essential and aromatic oils, 5% of pollen and 5% of other organic and inorganic substances, including residues such as earth and wood debris (Alfahdawi, 2017; Burdock, 1998; Menezes, 2005).…”

“…It is believed that propolis is used in folk medicine since 300 BC with the earliest records going back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Da Silva et al, 2006). Several civilizations have used this product in many ways and for several purposes (Menezes, 2005). Egyptians used propolis due to its anti‐putrefactive properties; the Greeks, the Romans and the Arabs used it as antiseptic, healing and oral disinfectant; whilst the Incas used propolis as antipyretic (Castaldo & Capasso, 2002).…”

“…An abundance of methoxylated flavonoids, as well as the presence of rare non‐flavonoid phenolic compounds, have also been described in some samples (Cruz et al, 2016). Yet, the amplitude of the pharmacological activities of propolis from temperate zones is lower than in tropical ones, which is ascribed to the lower plant diversity of those regions (Menezes, 2005).…”

“…and for several purposes (Menezes, 2005). Egyptians used propolis due to its anti-putrefactive properties; the Greeks, the Romans and the Arabs used it as antiseptic, healing and oral disinfectant; whilst the Incas used propolis as antipyretic (Castaldo & Capasso, 2002).…”