Daily Brazilian green propolis intake elevates blood artepillin C levels in humans

Abstract

BACKGROUND Propolis is a natural product collected by worker bees from a variety of plant species. As a type of propolis, Brazilian green propolis contains a large amount of artepillin C. Artepillin C is a cinnamic acid derivative and has been shown to have a wide variety of biological functions, including anti‐inflammatory, antiviral and antitumor activities, in both cell culture and animal models. However, how propolis is digested and absorbed remains to be elucidated. Moreover, blood artepillin C levels after propolis intake have not been shown in human studies. RESULTS A randomized, single‐blind placebo‐controlled study on the effect of Brazilian green propolis on serum artepillin C levels was conducted with healthy volunteers. The participants (n = 133) were randomly allocated in an approximately 2:1 ratio to two groups: propolis (n = 91) and placebo (n = 42). The participants took daily propolis or placebo, and blood tests were performed on day 0 (before propolis intake) and days 1, 3 and 7. Artepillin C was detected in serum in almost all individuals in the propolis groups. No serum artepillin C was detected in the placebo group. Serum artepillin C levels in the female group tended to be higher than those in the male group. In the female group, menstrual status was unrelated to serum artepillin C levels. CONCLUSION These results suggested that propolis intake might be more effective for females than for males. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry

Prospects of ultrasonically extracted food bioactives in the field of non-invasive biomedical applications – A review

“…Under these circumstances, extracts from green propolis with a high antioxidant capacity could be produced [140] . The green propolis (Brazil) contains artepillin C (Art-C), which contains the cinnamic acid derivate have benefits in treating inflammation, viral disease, and tumor in cell culture and animal models [141] . The mechanism might be that Art-C might exhibit antioxidant activity by raising the potential of endogenous proteins such as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), melatonin (MEL), glutathione peroxidase (GP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), which decreases pro-oxidative and nitrosative compounds that cause cellular damage [142] .…”

In vitro and in silico studies of prenylated phenylpropanoids of green propolis and their derivatives against cariogenic bacteria

“…Brazilian green propolis is produced by Apis mellifera using shoot apices of Baccharis dracucunlifolia (Asteraceae) in the country's Southeast [12]. Because of its wide diversity of biological and pharmacological activities [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], especially the antimicrobial properties [21][22][23][24][25], Brazilian green propolis has also been used in folk medicine and exported to several countries (e.g., Japan, China, Russia, France, and Germany) as sprays, toothpaste, soaps, ointments, and creams for skin [26].…”

In Vitro Efficacy of Hungarian Propolis against Bacteria, Yeast, and Trichomonas gallinae Isolated from Pigeons—A Possible Antibiotic Alternative?

“…Propolis is a resinous product consisting of various plant parts and substances produced by honeybees (Apis spp.) [1][2][3][4][5]. To the best of our knowledge, propolis has more than 300 known components, with a composition of approximately 50% resin, 30% wax, 10% essential oil, 5% pollen, and an additional 5% other organic components [1,[5][6][7][8].…”