Propolis controlled delivery systems for oral therapeutics in dental medicine: A systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review covers the existing evidence in the literature regarding the association of propolis with controlled delivery systems (DDS) and its potential therapeutic action in dental medicine. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Two independent reviewers performed a literature search up to 15th January 2022 in five databases: PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Embase, to identify the eligible studies. Clinical, in situ, and in vitro studies that investigated the incorporation of propolis as the main agent in DDS for dental medicine were included in this study. Conversly, review articles, clinical cases, theses, dissertations, abstracts at congresses, and studies that had no application in dentistry were excluded. After examining carefully 55 full-text articles, 11 in vitro studies, 1 animal model, and 1 in vivo and in vitro study were included (n = 13). Relevant data were extracted from the included studies and analyzed qualitatively. The use of propolis has been reported in cariology, endodontics periodontics, and implantology. Propolis has shown non-cytotoxic, osteoinductive, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, propolis can readly be released from DDS for prolonged periods, having potential biocompatibility, safety, and potential advantage for applications in dental medicine.