The potential with these natural products is enormous. The bees are doing a great work for human health, by facilitating the identification of compounds with applicability to dental science, says Koo.
The team isnt the first to note the health effects of propolis. Human use of propolis dates back to at least 300 B.C., and today there are creams, lotions, and even chewing gum that contain propolis and tout its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties. In recent times people have claimed that the substance is useful in wound healing, tissue regeneration, and for treating burns, psoriasis, and herpes. Propolis is used as a food additive in Japan, and demand is strong in Europe too; in the United States, Koo says, there has been little demand, though lately he has seen propolis popping up on store shelves, as anti-oxidant capsules or as a solution to treat cuts.
But not all propolis is created equal; the quality and make-up of propolis varies dramatically, depending largely on the plants and trees of the region where honeybees do their work. Koo analyzed more than 2,500 propolis samples from Brazil alone and found 12 different chemical compositions.
There is a huge variability in terms of chemical composition, depending on the plant ecology of the specific regions where bees collect this material. Just because theres propolis in toothpaste doesnt mean its useful, says Koo, noting that there are a few mouth washes and toothpastes that contain propolis. Theres a
Contact: Tom Rickey
University of Rochester Medical Center