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Pr5.5
Propolis Research
Likely helps
151 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Propolis appears to help in 4 of 4 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 315 participants.
Based on 151 studies · 19 meta-analyses · 104 RCTs · 3,333 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
4helped· 147 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Oral & dental health
Too few graded studies40 studies
InflammationLowered IL-6 and TNF-a in three meta-analyses of RCTs, with CRP lower in two of them · 2-4 weeks
Likely helps29 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Too few graded studies17 studies
Immune supportTopical propolis eased cold-sore lesions in a meta-analysis. Small COVID-19 studies are inconclusive. No trial tested infection resistance · 2-4 weeks
Too few graded studies14 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Too few graded studies14 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Too few graded studies7 studies
Wound & ulcer healing
Too few graded studies6 studies
Liver health
Too few graded studies5 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies3 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies3 studies
Cold sores & HSV
Too few graded studies2 studies
Depression & mood
Too few graded studies1 study
Skin health
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 20 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
100%
across studies
People studied
3,333
typical study: 315 people
Strongest designs
123
19 pooled, 104 randomised
Showed benefit
100%
4/4 studies
How long studies ran
1–3 months
1
Populations Studied
Adults2
Head and neck cancer patients1
Type 2 diabetes patients with periodontitis1
Chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients1
Active research area
102 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
197920022026
1IL-6 reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 2×n=1,139 · large study2024
In plain English: 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.
9Mucositis severity scoresMeta-AnalysisCited 25×n=650 · large study2022
In plain English: 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)
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 randomised trials with 650 head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, testing oral or topical antioxidants against placebo.
Included studies showed a statistically significant improvement in mucositis severity score for all antioxidants except melatonin.
However, further studies are needed as only one study reported outcomes for zinc, propolis, curcumin, and silymarin. Meta-analyses could not be conducted for zinc, propolis, curcumin, melatonin, silymarin, and selenium due to the lack of studies reporting similar outcomes for the same intervention.
11Clinical attachment levelMeta-AnalysisCited 1×n=315 · medium study2025
In plain English: 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 →
Meta-analysis of eight randomised trials (315 people with type 2 diabetes and periodontitis) testing melatonin, propolis, lycopene, ginger, vitamin C, omega-3 and grape seed extract alongside non-surgical periodontal therapy.
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). These HbA1c figures are identical to the attachment-level figures above, which may be an error in the published abstract.
In plain English: As for propolis, in three RCTs, anti-inflammatory, anti-proteinuric, and renal-protective properties were reported.
Josa E et al. · Nutrients (2024)
Systematic review of randomised trials of plant compounds and medicinal plants in chronic kidney disease and dialysis. Propolis was 3 of the trials, beside curcumin (8), sulforaphane, genistein, allicin, beetroot, green tea, rhubarb, astragalus and Tripterygium.
As for propolis, in three RCTs, anti-inflammatory, anti-proteinuric, and renal-protective properties were reported.
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.
14Fasting plasma glucose reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 43×n=373 · medium study2019
In plain English: 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.
In plain English: 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).
Sales-Peres SHC et al. · Brazilian oral research (2023)
The pooled clinical results are for periodontal (gum) outcomes only. No COVID-19 outcome was pooled.
Propolis improved probing depth (p < 0.001), clinical attachment level (p < 0.001), gingival index (p = 0.03) and bleeding on probing (p < 0.001). The plaque index result (p = 0.23) was not significant.
The authors' statements that propolis inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and helps the immune system against coronavirus rest on laboratory studies, not on the pooled trials.
In plain English: 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.
In plain English: However, future studies are warranted to investigate the clinical utility of propolis as a candidate in the treatment of IBD.
Soleimani D et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2021)
A review of animal studies only: propolis given to animals with experimental colitis. No human trial was included.
According to the studies examined in this review, the administration of propolis can be useful in attenuating many aspects of clinical, macroscopic, and histological features of colitis in animal models.
The efficacy of propolis in the treatment of IBD might be attributed to its potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities.