<Watch Video regarding production and effect of the Green Brazilian Propolis> BEE PROPOLIS
Propolis is a resinous substance, which bees collect from flowers and floral buttons, buds, barks of trees, especially from elms, and is used as a type of cement in the construction of the beehive. With the Propolis, the bees close off small openings and cracks in the hive, welding honeycombs, as well as sealing off the hive from cold winds, and preventing the entrance of its natural enemies (fungus and bacteria). Propolis is thus the raw material used in the construction of bee's community. Propolis contains antibacterial and antibiotic properties. In the temperate climates of Europe and North America, propolis production is very small and poplars are the main source of resin for the bees. In Brazil, with its diverse climate, plants and types of bees, several types, colors and qualities of Propolis are produced and classified as some of the best in the world, much appreciated in many countries in the far East. Until now, over 200 chemical compounds have already been identified in the Brazilian Propolis including flavonoids, terpenoids, aldehydes, aromatic acids, aliphatic alcohols and ethers, amino acids, steroids, sugars etc. These compounds permit various physiological activities already proved scientifically, which include anti-micro biotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antiviral and anti-tumor properties. BRAZILIAN PROPOLISBrazilian propolis is quite different from others produced all over the world. There are two main reasons for this. The first one is the type of bees. In Brazil we work with the Africanized Honey Bee (apis melifera scutelata). This special kind of bees has a different way to collect propolis in the plants. If there are 2 types of bees in an area, Africanized Honey Bees and European Honey Bees, they will produce different kinds of propolis. The second reason is the bio diversity of Brazilian flora. In North Hemisphere propolis is produced mainly by 2 types of plants. In Brazil, Propolis is found in more than 300 different types of plants. Researches made in Brazil and mainly in Japan show that the Green Type Propolis produced in some areas of São Paulo and Minas Gerais States in Brazil has the most contents of phenolic compounds, specially the flavonoids, and some esters very important to control some diseases, such as cancer. Uniflora is equipped with its own laboratory which permits total quality control of the various types of Propolis, permiting Uniflora to offer a product with a high therapeutic action, and at various levels of concentration. Uniflora produces Propolis Extract in the concentrations 30% (Light), 45% (Medium), and 55% (Strong), as well as 60% Brix Alcohol Free.
Scientific Researches SWINE FLU
Anti-influenza virus activity of propolis in vitro and its efficacy against influenza infection in mice.Department of Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan. BACKGROUND: Propolis has been used worldwide as a dietary supplement to maintain and improve human health. We examined whether ethanol extracts of Brazilian propolis exhibit antiviral activity against influenza virus in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Among 13 ethanol extracts screened in a plaque reduction assay, four showed anti-influenza virus activity. The anti-influenza efficacy of the four extracts was further examined in a murine influenza virus infection model. The mice were infected intranasally with influenza virus, and the four extracts were orally administered at 10 mg/kg three times daily for seven successive days after infection. RESULTS: In this infection model, only one extract, AF-08, was significantly effective at 10 mg/kg in reducing the body weight loss of infected mice. The doses of 2 and 10 mg/kg were also effective in prolonging the survival times of infected mice significantly, but 0.4 mg/kg was not. The anti-influenza efficacy of AF-08 at 10 mg/kg was confirmed in a dose-dependent manner in mice. AF-08 at 10 mg/kg significantly reduced virus yields in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of lungs in infected mice as compared with the control. The reduction of virus yields by AF-08 at 10 mg/kg significantly corresponded to those induced by oseltamivir at 1 mg/kg twice daily from day 1 to day 4 after infection. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian propolis AF-08 was indicated to possess anti-influenza virus activity and to ameliorate influenza symptoms in mice. AF-08 may be a possible candidate for an anti-influenza dietary supplement for humans. PMID: 18610553 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Patient Drug Information
Published in Cancer Detection and Prevention 1998; 22(6):506-515. Apoptosis and Suppression of Tumor Growth by Artepillin C Extracted From Brazilian PropolisABSTRACT: Artepillin C was extracted from Brazilian propolis. Artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) has a molecular weight of 300.40 and possesses antibacterial activity. When artepillin C was applied to human and murine malignant tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, artepillin C exhibited a cytotoxic effect and the growth of tumor cells was clearly inhibited. The artepillin C was found to cause significant damage to solid tumor and leukemic cells by the MTT assay, DNA synthesis assay, and morphological observation in vitro. When xenografts of human tumor cells were transplanted into nude mice, the cytotoxic effects of artepillin C were most noticeable in carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Apoptosis, abortive mitosis, and massive necrosis combined were identified by histological observation after intratumor injection of 500 μg of artepillin C three times a week. In addition to suppression of tumor growth, there was an increase in the ratio of CD4/CD8 T cells, and in the total number of helper T cells. These findings indicate that artepillin C activates the immune system, and possesses direct antitumor activity.
Published in Anticancer Res. 2001 Jan-Feb;21(1A):221-8. Apoptosis of human leukemia cells induced
by Artepillin C, an active ingredient of Brazilian propolis.
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