|  | Conditions Treatments | Diseases

The Effects of Propolis on Cancer

Propolis is made when bees gather a sticky, resinous sap from certain trees and plants and mix it with wax flakes produced from glands located on the underside of a their abdomens. Because of its anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-septic properties, it has attracted interest from people wishing to use alternative medicines and those in communities that are far removed from traditional medical facilities.

  1. Purpose and contents

    • Propolis has an antiseptic quality and is used to provide a clean environment in which the queen bee can lay her eggs. Propolis consists of 55 percent resinous compounds, 30 percent beeswax, 10 percent ethereal and aromatic oils and 5 percent pollen.

    Beehive products

    • Unlike traditional medicines, against which bacteria can develop immunities, Propolis and other beehive products stimulate the human immune system and does not harm bacteria needed by the body to function at its highest efficiency.

    Anticarcinogenic

    • Several studies have been done to understand the effectiveness of Propolis in fighting cancer. The compound has shown an ability to limit tumor growth and prolong the life of mice in laboratory studies. A study published in Nutrition and Cancer in 2003 revealed that propolis stimulated apoptosis (programmed cell death) and necrosis (cell death) of lung cancer tumors in mice. Another study revealed that propolis inhibited the synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins in leukemia.

    Other anti-cancer effects

    • Ethanol extracted from propolis has been shown to change human hepatic (liver) and uterine (uterus or womb) cancer cells in laboratory tests and prevent further growth. The isolated elements in propolis that inhibit growth and destroy cancer cells are quercetin (a natural anti-oxidant), caffeic acid (a naturally-occurring organic compound) and clerodane diterpendoid. Clerodane diterpendoid displays a selective toxicity to tumor cells. Caffeic acid in propolis promotes cell death in human breast, melanoma, colon and renal cancer cells. Another substance found in propolis called Artepillin C has shown to be toxic to human gastric carcinoma cells and lung cancer cells.

    Antioxidant effect

    • During the normal process of functioning cells in humans, free radicals are produced as by-products. These free radicals contribute to cancer and the flavonoids (used in the pigmentation of flowers to attract pollinators) in propolis exhibit an ability to seek out free radicals and protect important vitamins and lipids in the body from being destroyed.

    Other beneficial effects

    • Propolis has also shown the ability to facilitate wound healing and repair of tissues and as an anaesthetic. Propolis has long been used to treat sore throats and mouth sores. It has also shown to help regulate the human immune system.

Diseases - Related Articles