Bee Propolis Fights Infection

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Bee Propolis Fights Infection

from " Specialty Foods " section in " 150 Healthiest Foods, " pg. 222 - 223 by Dr.

Jonny Bowden

Propolis possesses a multitude of pharmacological activities. It's created by

bees by mixing a resinous sap from trees with wax back at the hive. Bees use it

as a kind of glue or general-purpose sealer-- they coat the hive with propolis

in much the same way we use paint and caulking on our homes. People began using

propolis more than 2,300 years ago for many purposes, the foremost of which was

applying it to wounds to fight infection. A recent review of the biological

activity of bee propolis on health and disease published in the January 2006

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention noted that propolis possesses

antimicrobial, antioxidative, antiulcer and antitumor activities.

Many scientific articles are published every year in different international

journals related to the pharmacological properties of this amazing substance.

More than 300 compounds have been identified in propolis samples, including

polyphenols, and many of these compounds have surprisingly protective effects.

ONe active compound from propolis -- caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) -- is

known to have anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory

properties. In a recent study published in the May 2006 Journal of Nutritional

Biochemistry, CAPE derived from propolis inhibited the cell migration and colony

formation of tumor cells, providing direct evidence for the role of CAPE as a

potent antimetastic agent that can markedly inhibit the metastatic and invasive

capacity of malignant cells.