Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Med Res Rev. 2022 Mar;42(2):897-945. doi: 10.1002/med.21866. Epub 2021 Nov 2.
Propolis is a complex natural product that possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties mainly attributed to the high content in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. The chemical composition of propolis is multifarious, as it depends on the botanical sources from which honeybees collect resins and exudates. Nevertheless, despite this variability propolis may have a general pharmacological value, and this review systematically compiles, for the first time, the existing preclinical and clinical evidence of propolis activities as an antiviral and immunomodulatory agent, focusing on the possible application in respiratory diseases. In vitro and in vivo assays have demonstrated propolis broad-spectrum effects on viral infectivity and replication, as well as the modulatory actions on cytokine production and immune cell activation as part of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Clinical trials confirmed propolis undeniable potential as an effective therapeutic agent; however, the lack of rigorous randomized clinical trials in the context of respiratory diseases is tangible. Since propolis is available as a dietary supplement, possible use for the prevention of respiratory diseases and their deleterious inflammatory drawbacks on the respiratory tract in humans is considered and discussed. This review opens up new perspectives on the clinical investigation of neglected propolis biological properties which, now more than ever, are particularly relevant with respect to the recent outbreaks of pandemic respiratory infections.
蜂胶是一种复杂的天然产物，具有抗氧化、抗炎、免疫调节、抗菌和抗病毒特性，主要归因于黄酮类化合物、酚酸及其衍生物的高含量。蜂胶的化学成分多种多样，因为它取决于蜜蜂采集树脂和分泌物的植物来源。然而，尽管存在这种可变性，蜂胶可能具有一般的药理学价值，本综述首次系统地整理了蜂胶作为抗病毒和免疫调节剂的现有临床前和临床证据，重点关注其在呼吸道疾病中的可能应用。体外和体内试验表明，蜂胶对病毒感染和复制具有广谱作用，以及对细胞因子产生和免疫细胞激活的调节作用，作为固有和适应性免疫反应的一部分。临床试验证实了蜂胶作为有效治疗剂的不可否认的潜力；然而，在呼吸道疾病方面缺乏严格的随机临床试验是显而易见的。由于蜂胶可用作膳食补充剂，因此考虑并讨论了其在预防人类呼吸道疾病及其对呼吸道的有害炎症方面的可能用途。本综述为临床研究被忽视的蜂胶生物学特性开辟了新的视角，鉴于最近大流行呼吸道感染的爆发，这些特性现在比以往任何时候都更加相关。
