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Pr8.0
Propolis Research
Likely helpsModerate safety
35 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Propolis appears to help in 8 of 8 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1970–2026 with a typical study size of 199 participants.
Based on 35 studies · 17 meta-analyses · 5 RCTs · 11,851 total participants
Immune supportEnhanced immune function and infection resistance · 2-4 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Wound & ulcer healing
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Liver health
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies2 studies
Cold sores & HSV
Too few graded studies1 study
Depression & mood
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 25 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
100%
across studies
People studied
12k
typical study: 199 people
Strongest designs
22
17 pooled, 5 randomised
Showed benefit
100%
8/8 studies
How long studies ran
1–3 months
2
Populations Studied
Adults3
COVID-19 patients2
Type 2 diabetes patients with periodontitis1
Various conditions with inflammation1
Active research area
29 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
197019982026
1Meta-AnalysisCited 1×n=3,544 · very large study2025
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Propolis.
Norouzzadeh M et al. · Nutrition & diabetes (2025)
Propolis demonstrated reductions in anthropometric measures and improvements in lipid profile, glycemic control, liver enzymes, and inflammation and oxidative stress markers.
While long-term or high-dose honey consumption in individuals with health concerns warrants caution, RJ and propolis demonstrated dose-dependent benefits for cardiometabolic health with proper certainty.
Future research should focus on population-specific characteristics and optimized dosages.
2IL-6 reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 2×n=1,139 · large study2024
The propolis supplementation significantly reduced IL-6 (WMD = -2.48; 95 % CI: -4.62, -0.34; P = 0.023) and TNF-α (WMD = -0.86; 95 % CI: -1.45, -0.26; P = 0.005) compared with control groups.
Zhong-Yong L et al. · Prostaglandins & other lipid mediators (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The propolis supplementation significantly reduced IL-6 (WMD = -2.48; 95 % CI: -4.62, -0.34; P = 0.023) and TNF-α (WMD = -0.86; 95 % CI: -1.45, -0.26; P = 0.005) compared with control groups.
Although the CRP concentration was not reduced (WMD = 0.01; 95 % CI: -0.03, 0.05, P = 0.646), a significant reduction in CRP levels was revealed in supplementation durations ≥ 10 weeks.
These results suggest that propolis has a beneficial effect on TNF-α and IL-6 levels and may be an effective adjunctive therapy for diseases where inflammation is a key factor in the etiology.
Antioxidants, particularly melatonin and propolis, enhance periodontal and glycemic outcomes in T2D-periodontitis patients.
Abdulla SA et al. · Clinical and experimental dental research (2025)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Adjunctive antioxidants significantly improved CAL (melatonin: SMD -2.28, 95% CI -3.01 to -1.56; propolis: SMD -3.83, -4.79 to -2.87) and PD (melatonin: SMD -2.40, -3.14 to -1.66; propolis: SMD -1.78, -2.44 to -1.11).
Melatonin and propolis also reduced HbA1c (melatonin: SMD -2.28; propolis: SMD -3.83).
Antioxidants, particularly melatonin and propolis, enhance periodontal and glycemic outcomes in T2D-periodontitis patients.
4Anti-inflammatory mechanismsSystematic ReviewCited 84×n=166 · medium study2022
Propolis also reduces the migration of immune cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, possibly by downregulating the chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10.
Zulhendri F et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2022)
Several key themes related to the anti-inflammatory properties of propolis were subsequently identified, namely in relation to cancers, oral health, metabolic syndrome, organ toxicity and inflammation, immune system, wound healing, and pathogenic infections.
Based on the latest experimental evidence, propolis is demonstrated to possess various mechanisms of action in modulating inflammation towards the regulatory balance and anti-inflammatory environment.
In general, we summarize that propolis acts as an anti-inflammatory substance by inhibiting and downregulating TLR4, MyD88, IRAK4, TRIF, NLRP inflammasomes, NF-κB, and their associated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α.
5Mucositis severity scoresMeta-AnalysisCited 20×n=199 · medium study2022
Though oral and topical antioxidants significantly improved mucositis severity scores in HNC patients receiving radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy in individual studies, the quality of the evidence was low due to the small number of studies and unclear/high-risk bias.
Raza A et al. · Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (2022)
Likely real
Included studies showed a statistically significant improvement in mucositis severity score for all antioxidants except melatonin.
Patients receiving vitamin E were 60% less likely to develop severe mucositis grade 2 or higher than those receiving placebo in one study (P = 0.040).
Patients receiving zinc were 95% less likely to develop severe mucositis (grades 3-4) in one study compared to placebo (P = 0.031).
7CKD progression prevention and treatmentSystematic ReviewCited 7×2024
These results suggest that bioactive compounds of plant-based foods and medicinal plants have promising effects in terms of preventing or treating CKD progression and appear to improve inflammation and antioxidant capacity and support cardiovascular benefits and renoprotective effects; however, it is recommended that further studies be carried out.
8Fasting plasma glucose reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 43×n=373 · medium study2019
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that propolis supplementation may be effective in controlling glycemic levels for T2DM patients.
Karimian J et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2019)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The results of the meta-analysis revealed significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose (-13.51 mg/dl; 95% CI [-24.98, -2.04]) and hemoglobin A1C (-0.52%; 95% CI [-0.94, -0.10]) concentrations following propolis supplementation.
However, no significant lowering effect was observed in fasting insulin levels (-0.53 pmol/L; 95% CI [-1.69, 0.63]) or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (-0.543; 95% CI [-1.72, 0.64]).
This systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that propolis supplementation may be effective in controlling glycemic levels for T2DM patients.
According to our result, propolis supplementation can decrease serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α; therefore, it might be considered as complementary therapy for the treatment of certain chronic diseases.
Gholami A et al. · Journal of health, population, and nutrition (2024)
According to our result, propolis supplementation can decrease serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α; therefore, it might be considered as complementary therapy for the treatment of certain chronic diseases.
Treatment with propolis improves general health and facilitates the activation of the immune system against coronavirus.
Sales-Peres SHC et al. · Brazilian oral research (2023)
The meta-analysis showed favorable results with the use of propolis on probing depth (95%CI: 0.92; p < 0.001), clinical attachment level (95%CI: 1.48; p < 0.001), gingival index (95%CI: 0.14; p = 0.03), plaque index (95%CI: 0.11; p = 0.23), and blending on probing (95%CI: 0.39; p < 0.001).
The antibacterial activity of propolis could be mediated through its direct action on microorganisms or the stimulation of the immune system, activating natural defenses.
Thus, propolis inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 as well as its bacterial activity.
Although there are a number of promising indications, in view of the limited number and quality of studies and the variation in results among studies, this review highlights the need for additional well-designed trials to draw conclusions that are more robust.
Hwu YJ et al. · The journal of nursing research : JNR (2014)
The result of the meta-analysis indicated that, although propolis had an effect on reducing dental plaque, this effect was not statistically significant.
The results were not statistically significant for oral infection or stomatitis.
Although there are a number of promising indications, in view of the limited number and quality of studies and the variation in results among studies, this review highlights the need for additional well-designed trials to draw conclusions that are more robust.
However, future studies should be carried out to identify the compounds responsible for these effects and to determine their potential use in people.
Ruiz-Hurtado PA et al. · Nutrients (2021)
Gastroprotection was related to the antioxidant, antisecretory, and cytoprotective effects, as well as the phenolic compounds present in the chemical composition of propolis.
However, most of the studies used different doses of NSAIDs and propolis and evaluated different parameters.
Propolis has proven to be a good alternative for the treatment of gastric ulcer disease.
17Healing time for HSV-induced lesionsMeta-AnalysisCited 16×2022
Overall, these results confirm the use of honey and propolis as potent antiherpetic agents.
Rocha MP et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2022)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The analysis of these studies showed that the healing property of propolis is superior to that obtained for acyclovir (95% CI: 2.70 to 8.25; p = 0.0001).
Furthermore, honey also presented a better healing effect than acyclovir against Herpes simplex virus-induced wounds (95% CI: 3.58 to -0.19; p = 0.03), inducing complete re-epithelization of herpetic lesions after 8 days, while for acyclovir, the healing time average was 9 days.
It also provoked a similar reduction of pain caused by herpetic compared to acyclovir (95% CI: 2.27 to -0.42; p = 0.18).
19COVID-19 symptoms and viral clearance timeSystematic ReviewCited 22×n=19 · very small study2022
In silico studies showed that compounds from propolis could interact with target proteins of SARS-CoV-2, interfering with viral entry and viral RNA replication, while clinical studies revealed that propolis and honey could probably improve clinical COVID-19 symptoms and decrease viral clearance time.
Dilokthornsakul W et al. · Journal of integrative medicine (2022)
However, clinical evidence is limited by the small number of studies and small sample sizes.
Polish scientists have made a significant contribution to the research on propolis, its biological properties and influence on wound healing.
Rojczyk E et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2020)
Polish scientists have made a significant contribution to the research on propolis, its biological properties and influence on wound healing.
Propolis ointments can effectively accelerate the healing process and improve healing physiology, so they can be recommended as a promising topical medication for wound treatment in the future clinical and preclinical trials.