propolis
{{Short description|Resinous mixture produced by honey bees}}
{{about|a product made by bees|the fungus genus|Propolis (fungus)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
File:Propolis2.JPG (Apis mellifera)]]
File:Propolized bars joined together.JPG
File:Propolized bars pulled apart.JPG
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 {{convert|6|mm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} or less), while gaps larger than the bee space (around {{convert|9|mm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}}) 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 {{convert|19|C|F}}, 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.{{cite journal | vauthors = Simone-Finstrom M, Spivak M |doi=10.1051/apido/2010016 |title=Propolis and bee health: The natural history and significance of resin use by honey bees |journal=Apidologie |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=295–311 |date=May–June 2010|doi-access=free |hdl=11299/182451 |hdl-access=free }} The chemical composition and nature of propolis depend on environmental conditions and harvested resources.{{cite journal | vauthors = Ferreira JM, Fernandes-Silva CC, Salatino A, Negri G, Message D | title = New propolis type from north-east Brazil: chemical composition, antioxidant activity and botanical origin | journal = Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | volume = 97 | issue = 11 | pages = 3552–3558 | date = August 2017 | pmid = 28078783 | doi = 10.1002/jsfa.8210 | bibcode = 2017JSFA...97.3552F }}
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.{{cite book | vauthors = Popova M, Trusheva B, Bankova V | title=Reference Series in Phytochemistry | chapter=Chemistry and Applications of Propolis | publisher=Springer International Publishing| year=2022 | issn=2511-834X | doi=10.1007/978-3-030-91378-6_38 | pages=657–688| isbn=978-3-030-91377-9 }}{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
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:
- Reinforcing the structural stability and reduce vibration
- Providing improved thermal insulation to the hive and reduce water loss
- Providing protection from pathogens, via antifungal and antibacterial propertiesNational Geographic p. 83 03/2020{{cite news| vauthors = Walker M |title=Honeybees sterilise their hives|work=BBC News|date=23 July 2009|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8152000/8152574.stm|access-date=2009-07-24}}
- Make the hive more defensible against parasites and predators by narrowing the existing entrance (in wild colonies) to a single "choke point"
- 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.{{cite journal | vauthors = Toreti VC, Sato HH, Pastore GM, Park YK | title = Recent progress of propolis for its biological and chemical compositions and its botanical origin | journal = Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | volume = 2013 | pages = 697390 | date = 2013 | pmid = 23737843 | pmc = 3657397 | doi = 10.1155/2013/697390 | doi-access = free }} 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%).{{Cite journal |last=Wagh |first=Vijay D. |date=2013 |title=Propolis: A Wonder Bees Product and Its Pharmacological Potentials |journal=Advances in Pharmacological Sciences |volume=2013 |pages=308249 |doi=10.1155/2013/308249 |doi-access=free |issn=1687-6334 |pmc=3872021 |pmid=24382957}}{{Cite journal |last=Burdock |first=G. A. |date=1998-04-06 |title=Review of the biological properties and toxicity of bee propolis (propolis) |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691597001452 |journal=Food and Chemical Toxicology |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=347–363 |doi=10.1016/S0278-6915(97)00145-2 |pmid=9651052 |issn=0278-6915}} An analysis of propolis from Henan, China, found sinapinic acid, isoferulic acid, caffeic acid, and chrysin.{{cite journal | vauthors = Qiao Z, Chen R | title = [Isolation and identification of antibiotic constituents of propolis from Henan] | language = zh | journal = Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica | volume = 16 | issue = 8 | pages = 481–2, 512 | date = August 1991 | pmid = 1804186 }}
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.{{cite journal| vauthors = Mesquita RC, Franciscon CH |title=Flower visitors of Clusia nemorosa G. F. W. Meyer (Clusiaceae) in an Amazonian white-sand Campina|journal=Biotropica|volume=27|issue=2|pages=254–8|date=June 1995|jstor=2389002|doi=10.2307/2389002|bibcode=1995Biotr..27..254D }} Clusia resin contains polyprenylated benzophenones.{{cite journal | vauthors = Tomás-Barberán FA, García-Viguera C, Vit-Oliviera P, Ferreres F, Tomás-Lorente F |title=Phytochemical evidence for the botanical origin of tropical propolis from Venezuela|journal=Phytochemistry|volume=34|issue=1|pages=191–6|date=1993-08-03|doi=10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90804-5|bibcode=1993PChem..34..191T }}{{cite journal| vauthors = Armbruster WS |title=The Role of Resin in Angiosperm Pollination: Ecological and Chemical Considerations|journal=American Journal of Botany|volume=71|issue=8|pages=1149–60|date=September 1984|jstor=2443391|doi=10.2307/2443391}}{{cite journal | vauthors = Bankova V | title = Recent trends and important developments in propolis research | journal = Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | volume = 2 | issue = 1 | pages = 29–32 | date = March 2005 | pmid = 15841275 | pmc = 1062152 | doi = 10.1093/ecam/neh059 }} In some areas of Chile and Argentina Andean valleys, propolis contains viscidone, a terpene from Baccharis shrubs,{{cite journal| vauthors = Montenegro G, Mujica AM, Peña RC, Gómez M, Serey I, Timmermann BN |date=2004|url=http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1851-56572004000100018|title=Similitude pattern and botanical origin of the Chilean propolis|journal=Phyton|volume=73|pages=145–154|issn=1851-5657|access-date=7 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217214122/http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1851-56572004000100018|archive-date=17 December 2014|url-status=dead}} and prenylated acids, such as 4-hydroxy-3,5-diprenyl cinnamic acid.{{cite journal | vauthors = Park YK, Alencar SM, Aguiar CL | title = Botanical origin and chemical composition of Brazilian propolis | journal = Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | volume = 50 | issue = 9 | pages = 2502–2506 | date = April 2002 | pmid = 11958612 | doi = 10.1021/jf011432b | bibcode = 2002JAFC...50.2502P }}
Overall, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and phenolic aldehydes are common constituents, while coumarins, stilbenes, and lignans are less common.{{cite journal | vauthors = Berenbaum MR, Calla B | title = Honey as a Functional Food for Apis mellifera | journal = Annual Review of Entomology | volume = 66 | issue = 1 | pages = 185–208 | date = January 2021 | pmid = 32806934 | doi = 10.1146/annurev-ento-040320-074933 | publisher = Annual Reviews | s2cid = 221165130 | author1-link = May Berenbaum }}
Uses
= Traditional medicine =
Propolis has been used in traditional medicine, with a rating that it is "possibly effective" for treating mouth ulcers and improving blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.{{cite web| url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/390.html |title=Propolis|publisher=MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine |date=9 June 2023|access-date=30 November 2024}}
= Musical instruments =
Propolis is used by some string-instrument makers (violin, viola, cello, and bass) as a varnish ingredient.{{cite web |url= http://www.scavm.com/Fulton.htm |title=PROPOLIS SOAP – Used as a Ground for Violin Varnish | vauthors = Fulton W |date=July 1997 |publisher=Southern California Association of Violin Makers |access-date=6 Dec 2020}} 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.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Claims that Antonio Stradivari used propolis in the varnish of his instruments were disproven in 2009.{{cite web | url = https://www.classical-music.com/news/stradivarius-varnish-myth-debunked/ | title = Stradivarius varnish myth debunked | work = BBC Music | date = 8 December 2009 }}{{cite web | url = https://phys.org/news/2009-12-secret-composition-varnish-stradivari-violins.html | title = Secret behind the composition of the varnish on Stradivari violins revealed | work = PhysOrg.com | date = 4 December 2009 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Wiktionary}}
- {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Propolis|year=1905 |short=x}}
{{Purinergics}}
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