What is propolis

Bees are one of the most common animals in spring, summer and autumn, and are regarded as the most hardworking animals. Bees are also magical creatures. They can produce honey for human use. It also contains substances such as propolis, which have great effects on both bees and humans. Propolis can be used as a medicinal ingredient to prevent many diseases. Let us learn about propolis.

Propolis is a resin collected by bees from plant spores or tree trunks, which is mixed with secretions from their palatine glands and wax glands to form a gelatinous solid with an aromatic smell. It is a yellowish brown or dark brown sticky substance secreted by the Chinese honey bee, a member of the Apidae family, to repair the hive and can be used as medicine. It is mild in nature, bitter, pungent and slightly sweet in taste, and has the effects of moisturizing the skin, promoting tissue regeneration, and relieving inflammation and pain. It can treat gastric ulcers, oral ulcers, burns, skin cracks and pain, and protect against radiation and other diseases.

1. Item Source

Propolis is an effective substance used by bees to maintain the health of the entire colony. A bee colony of 50,000 to 60,000 bees can only produce 70-110 grams of propolis a year, which is known as "purple gold". The propolis production period is mostly in summer and autumn. The propolis source plants in my country include most tree species in the Betulaceae, Salicaceae, Pinaceae, Cupressaceae and Anacardiaceae, as well as peach, plum, apricot, chestnut, rubber, eucalyptus and sunflower.

2. Physical and chemical properties

Propolis is an opaque solid with a smooth or rough surface, a sandy broken surface, and a cross-section similar in appearance to marble. It is yellowish brown, tan, grayish brown, grayish green, dark green, and very few are as dark black. It has a special and pleasant aroma. It tastes slightly bitter and slightly spicy, sticks to teeth when chewed, and can be softened by rubbing with hands. When the temperature is below 15°C, it becomes hard, brittle and easy to crush; at 36°C, it becomes soft, sticky and plastic; when the temperature reaches 60~70°C, it melts into a viscous fluid and beeswax is separated. The specific gravity varies with different plant species and is generally between 1.112 and 1.136. Insoluble in water, slightly soluble in turpentine, partially soluble in ethanol, and very soluble in ether and chloroform. It is soluble in 95% ethanol and is transparent maroon with granular precipitation. Pure propolis should not contain other impurities.

Figures released by the China Bee Products Association show that my country's annual propolis production is about 300 tons. However, the actual annual sales volume of propolis in my country is nearly 1,000 tons.

①. Propolis can enhance the effects of certain antibiotics

Propolis can not only be used alone to inhibit or kill pathogenic bacteria, viruses, protozoa, etc., but it can also be used in combination with certain antibiotics and penicillin to enhance the antibacterial power of these antibiotics and prolong their antibacterial activity.

②, Broad-spectrum antibacterial effect :

The suitable air temperature and temperature in the hives or tree holes where the bees live do not cause the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Why is this? Studies have confirmed that propolis plays an important role. Propolis can inhibit the growth of many bacteria and certain viruses and has a broad-spectrum antibiotic effect.

③. Radiation resistance

It can be used to remove free radicals produced by radiation, reduce the inhibition of hematopoietic function caused by radiation, improve the body's anti-chlorination ability and immunity, and reduce the risk of radiation-induced cancer. It can be safely used in clinical practice to minimize the damage that may be caused to the human body by radiation accidents, occupational exposure, medical exposure, etc.

④. Blood purification function

Propolis can strengthen the heart's contractility, deepen breathing, adjust blood pressure, purify the blood, and regulate blood lipids.

⑤Treatment of liver disease

Propolis has a strong repairing effect on fatty liver and liver damage caused by long-term drinking. It can effectively prevent alcoholic liver and alcoholic cirrhosis, prevent the accumulation of fat in liver cells, and thus effectively prevent and treat fatty liver. Moreover, propolis, which has a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect, can not only kill the hepatitis virus and inhibit the replication of the virus in liver cells, but also enhance the body's immune ability and turn hepatitis B negative.