Topical propolis improves wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcer: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

In this randomized controlled trial, diabetic patients with foot ulcers (Wagner grades 1 and 2) were randomly assigned to conventional therapies for diabetic foot ulcer plus topical propolis ointment (5%; twice daily) or conventional therapies alone. The process of ulcer healing was observed during 4 weeks and compared between the two groups regarding the size, erythema, exudates, white blood cell (WBC) count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The process of ulcer size reduction during the four-week period of study was significantly different between the groups. However, this difference was not significant between the third and fourth weeks. There was no significant difference between two groups regarding erythema and exudate reduction as well as WBC count and ESR. Administration of topical propolis ointment in addition to the conventional treatments of diabetic foot ulcer could reduce the size of ulcers with Wagner grades 1 and 2.

Effects of Propolis Extract and Propolis-Derived Compounds on Obesity and Diabetes: Knowledge from Cellular and Animal Models

“…In accordance with these results, topical treatment with 5% propolis water extract-containing ointment reduced ulcer size 1 week after initiation propolis treatment ( n = 20) compared with control ointment treatment ( n = 20) [315]. The numbers of patients showing ulcer discharge and erythema were diminished in the propolis-treated group (discharge, 5%; erythema, 0%) compared to the control group (discharge, 15%; erythema, 15%) [315]. More recently, the effects of Chilean propolis spray on diabetic foot ulcers have also been reported [316].…”

“…Therefore, propolis improves wound healing through reduction of bacterial load as well as MMP-9-accelerated inflammation. In accordance with these results, topical treatment with 5% propolis water extract-containing ointment reduced ulcer size 1 week after initiation propolis treatment ( n = 20) compared with control ointment treatment ( n = 20) [315]. The numbers of patients showing ulcer discharge and erythema were diminished in the propolis-treated group (discharge, 5%; erythema, 0%) compared to the control group (discharge, 15%; erythema, 15%) [315].…”

Propolis and its potential against SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms and COVID-19 disease

“…Clinical trials with diabetic patients demonstrated that propolis consumption improved antioxidant parameters [ 167 ], glycemic control [ 168 , 169 ], and the lipid profile and renal function [ 170 ]. Propolis is also an antimicrobial agent with wound healing properties [ 171 , 172 ], which has proven especially useful for diabetic patients [ 173 , 174 ], who tend to develop difficult to heal wounds.…”

Propolis as an Adjuvant in the Healing of Human Diabetic Foot Wounds Receiving Care in the Diagnostic and Treatment Centre from the Regional Hospital of Talca

“…The present study shows favorable changes in the patients that received topical treatment of propolis at the site of the wound, healing better than those not treated. Previously, it has been reported that propolis is well tolerated and reduces the area of the ulcer by an average of 41% vs. 16% in controls (applied Wagner's classification weekly) [15] and reduces the size of ulcers (four weeks) with grades 1 and 2 [22], proving for the first time that topical propolis may enhance wound closure. The evolution of patients treated with topical propolis in our research for an average of 8 weeks showed a 25% reduction in the wound area.…”