Propolis Explained

Propolis or bee glue is a resinous mixture that honey bees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate gathered from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the beehive. Propolis is used for small gaps (around 6frac=4NaNfrac=4 or less), while gaps larger than the bee space (around 9frac=8NaNfrac=8) are usually filled with burr comb. Its color varies depending on its botanical source, with dark brown as the most common. Propolis is sticky above 19C, while at lower temperatures, it becomes hard and brittle.

When foraging, worker bees primarily harvest pollen and nectar, while also collecting water and plant resin necessary for the production of propolis.[1] The chemical composition and nature of propolis depend on environmental conditions and harvested resources.[2]

Types

Mixed types of propolis found in European countries with a moderate climate include two or more sources of plant resins (plant species) identified by composition, such as aspen, Mediterranean, poplar, Pacific, Brazilian green, Brazilian red, and Mangifera types of propolis.[3]

Purpose

Bees seal the beehive with propolis to protect the colony from the elements, such as rain and cold winter drafts.

Propolis functions may include:

  1. Reinforcing the structural stability and reduce vibration
  2. Providing improved thermal insulation to the hive and reduce water loss
  3. Providing protection from pathogens, via antifungal and antibacterial properties[4] [5]
  4. Make the hive more defensible against parasites and predators by narrowing the existing entrance (in wild colonies) to a single "choke point"
  5. Mitigate putrefaction within the hive - bees usually carry waste out of and away from the hive, but if a small lizard or mouse, for example, finds its way into the hive and dies there, bees may be unable to carry it out through the hive entrance. In that case, they would attempt instead to seal the carcass in propolis, essentially mummifying it and making it odorless and harmless.

Composition

The composition of propolis varies from hive to hive, from district to district, and from season to season.[6] Normally, it is dark brown in color, but it can be found in green, red, black, and white hues, depending on the sources of resin found in the particular hive area. Honey bees are opportunists, gathering what they need from available sources, and detailed analyses show that the chemical composition of propolis varies considerably from region to region, along with the vegetation. In northern temperate climates, for example, bees collect resins from trees, such as poplars and conifers (the biological role of resin in trees is to seal wounds and defend against bacteria, fungi, and insects). "Typical" northern temperate propolis has roughly 50 constituents, primarily resins and vegetable balsams (50%), waxes (30%), essential oils (10%), and pollen (5%).[7] [8] An analysis of propolis from Henan, China, found sinapinic acid, isoferulic acid, caffeic acid, and chrysin.[9]

In neotropical regions, in addition to a large variety of trees, bees may also gather resin from flowers in the genera Clusia and Dalechampia, which are the only known plant genera that produce floral resins to attract pollinators.[10] Clusia resin contains polyprenylated benzophenones.[11] [12] [13] In some areas of Chile and Argentina Andean valleys, propolis contains viscidone, a terpene from Baccharis shrubs,[14] and prenylated acids, such as 4-hydroxy-3,5-diprenyl cinnamic acid.[15]

Overall, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and phenolic aldehydes are common constituents, while coumarins, stilbenes, and lignans are less common.[16]

Uses

Traditional medicine

Propolis has been used in traditional medicine, with insufficient evidence to rate its effectiveness in the treatment of any illnesses.[17]

Musical instruments

Propolis is used by some string-instrument makers (violin, viola, cello, and bass) as a varnish ingredient.[18] A tincture of propolis may be used to seal the surface of newly made violin family bridges, and may be used in the maintenance of the bores of pan flute tubes. Claims that Antonio Stradivari used propolis in the varnish of his instruments were disproven in 2009.[19] [20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Simone-Finstrom M, Spivak M . 10.1051/apido/2010016 . Propolis and bee health: The natural history and significance of resin use by honey bees . Apidologie . 41 . 3 . 295–311 . May–June 2010. free . 11299/182451 . free .
  2. Ferreira JM, Fernandes-Silva CC, Salatino A, Negri G, Message D . New propolis type from north-east Brazil: chemical composition, antioxidant activity and botanical origin . Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture . 97 . 11 . 3552–3558 . August 2017 . 28078783 . 10.1002/jsfa.8210 . 2017JSFA...97.3552F .
  3. Book: Popova M, Trusheva B, Bankova V . Reference Series in Phytochemistry . Chemistry and Applications of Propolis . Springer International Publishing. 2022 . 2511-834X . 10.1007/978-3-030-91378-6_38 . 657–688. 978-3-030-91377-9 .
  4. National Geographic p. 83 03/2020
  5. News: Walker M . Honeybees sterilise their hives. BBC News. 23 July 2009. 2009-07-24.
  6. Toreti VC, Sato HH, Pastore GM, Park YK . Recent progress of propolis for its biological and chemical compositions and its botanical origin . Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine . 2013 . 697390 . 2013 . 23737843 . 3657397 . 10.1155/2013/697390 . free .
  7. Wagh . Vijay D. . 2013 . Propolis: A Wonder Bees Product and Its Pharmacological Potentials . Advances in Pharmacological Sciences . 2013 . 308249 . 10.1155/2013/308249 . free . 1687-6334 . 3872021 . 24382957.
  8. Burdock . G. A. . 1998-04-06 . Review of the biological properties and toxicity of bee propolis (propolis) . Food and Chemical Toxicology . 36 . 4 . 347–363 . 10.1016/S0278-6915(97)00145-2 . 9651052 . 0278-6915.
  9. Qiao Z, Chen R . [Isolation and identification of antibiotic constituents of propolis from Henan] . zh . Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica . 16 . 8 . 481–2, 512 . August 1991 . 1804186 .
  10. Mesquita RC, Franciscon CH . Flower visitors of Clusia nemorosa G. F. W. Meyer (Clusiaceae) in an Amazonian white-sand Campina. Biotropica. 27. 2. 254–8. June 1995. 2389002. 10.2307/2389002. 1995Biotr..27..254D .
  11. Tomás-Barberán FA, García-Viguera C, Vit-Oliviera P, Ferreres F, Tomás-Lorente F . Phytochemical evidence for the botanical origin of tropical propolis from Venezuela. Phytochemistry. 34. 1. 191–6. 1993-08-03. 10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90804-5. 1993PChem..34..191T .
  12. Armbruster WS . The Role of Resin in Angiosperm Pollination: Ecological and Chemical Considerations. American Journal of Botany. 71. 8. 1149–60. September 1984. 2443391. 10.2307/2443391.
  13. Bankova V . Recent trends and important developments in propolis research . Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine . 2 . 1 . 29–32 . March 2005 . 15841275 . 1062152 . 10.1093/ecam/neh059 .
  14. Montenegro G, Mujica AM, Peña RC, Gómez M, Serey I, Timmermann BN . 2004. Similitude pattern and botanical origin of the Chilean propolis. Phyton. 73. 145–154. 1851-5657. 7 November 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20141217214122/http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1851-56572004000100018. 17 December 2014. dead.
  15. Park YK, Alencar SM, Aguiar CL . Botanical origin and chemical composition of Brazilian propolis . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry . 50 . 9 . 2502–2506 . April 2002 . 11958612 . 10.1021/jf011432b .
  16. Berenbaum MR, Calla B . Honey as a Functional Food for Apis mellifera . Annual Review of Entomology . 66 . 1 . 185–208 . January 2021 . 32806934 . 10.1146/annurev-ento-040320-074933 . . 221165130 . May Berenbaum .
  17. Web site: Propolis. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine . 11 May 2020. 5 December 2020.
  18. Web site: PROPOLIS SOAP – Used as a Ground for Violin Varnish . Fulton W . July 1997 . Southern California Association of Violin Makers . 6 Dec 2020.
  19. Web site: Stradivarius varnish myth debunked . BBC Music . 8 December 2009 .
  20. Web site: Secret behind the composition of the varnish on Stradivari violins revealed . PhysOrg.com . 4 December 2009 .

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