Indispensable role of Indian propolis and its pharmacological significance: A review

Honeybees naturally produced a compound called propolis gathered from diverse plant sources. Bees use propolis to build and repair their hives because of its waxy and slimy qualities, which serve as a barrier against outside intruders. It is also a well-known form of folk medicine with a diverse range of biological activities. It has also been used as a health food product in important continental nations including Asia, United States and Europe. Various databased searched in order to find published papers about propolis and its relevant properties. After a thorough evaluation, 4,140 articles were obtained, 2,472 papers in the field of pharmacology of propolis components, 834 articles on the pharmacology and medical therapeutic properties, 65 articles on the propolis component in Indian regions. Propolis is incredibly popular all over the world, but in India propolis research is not widely studied or reported. India, being a vast country, has numerous varieties of propolis differing in chemical compositions and medicinal values. This review gathers major findings on the pharmacological properties of propolis focusing on its antimicrobial, anti-tumor, ant-oxidative and antiinflammatory properties.