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Pr5.5
Propolis Research
Likely helps
171 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Propolis appears to help in 9 of 9 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1979–2026 with a typical study size of 194 participants.
Based on 171 studies · 31 meta-analyses · 107 RCTs · 12,153 total participants
Immune supportEnhanced immune function and infection resistance · 2-4 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational19 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational16 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Mostly mechanism / observational11 studies
Wound & ulcer healing
Mostly mechanism / observational9 studies
Liver health
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Cold sores & HSV
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Depression & mood
Too few graded studies2 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies2 studies
Skin health
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 32 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
100%
across studies
People studied
12k
typical study: 194 people
Strongest designs
138
31 pooled, 107 randomised
Showed benefit
100%
9/9 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
117 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
197920022026
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.
18Anti-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.
19Mucositis 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).
20CKD 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.