ABSTRACT
Propolis from Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) is a hive product elaborated from resinous exudates that honeybees gather from certain trees and plants. The chemical composition of propolis is complex and related to vegetal diversity found around the hive. Although propolis has widely been used in folk medicine for thousands of years, a lack of accurate patterns defining their pharmacological activities raises difficulties for the standardization of commercial products that would guarantee its therapeutic safety and efficacy for human beings and other animals. This review summarizes some of the newest developments in propolis pharmacological research.
KEY WORDS
Propolis; pharmacological activities;
Apismellifera