This supplement contains red propolis, a rare substance with an exceptionally rich nutritional content that’s harvested from the mangroves of Brazil. It has the highest level of antioxidant phenolic compounds of all the forms of propolis and is the most effective at supporting immune function.
Its extraordinary pharmacological potential (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant) exceeds that of green propolis, which is itself a remarkable, highly-valued product (1). It contains more isoflavones which significantly improve menopause-related symptoms.
What benefits are offered by Red Propolis?
As confirmed by scientists some decades ago, the use of propolis dates back several thousand years. More recently, researchers have discovered that it has an astonishing number of additional biological and therapeutic properties useful in everyday life (2-4). We now know that propolis plays a part in:
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Stimulating the immune system to prevent infection (5-6). The immune system can become less responsive when the temperature drops or when it’s subjected to a stream of external aggressors, making the body more vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and pathogenic fungi. Propolis contains micronutrients for preventing such a scenario: it helps ‘mobilise the troops’ (increasing the number of macrophages) and gets them fitter, faster (by stimulating their lytic activity) due to its role in hundreds of enzymatic processes.
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Helping the immune system fight infection and bacterial attack (7). Not content with optimising the efficacy of immune cells, propolis also provides them with a variety of natural antibiotic compounds that combat the growth of pathogenic bacteria, inhibit the synthesis of their DNA and break down their cell walls. Individually, these molecules have a modest effect but when combined, they are formidable and help the body repel aggressors using exogenous compounds. They are, in a manner of speaking, additional ‘weapons and external troops’ that ‘swell the ranks’ of our immune cells. They include, for example, galangin, kaempferol and pinocembrin, all of which have a powerful anti-fungal effect, as well as caffeic acid esters which disrupt the progress of viruses from cell to cell.
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Fighting inflammation (8-9). The flavonoids in red propolis interfere with the production of certain inflammatory mediators (especially prostaglandins and leukotrienes), in a similar way to aspirin (but via a unique mechanism).
These remarkable properties mean that red propolis can fight infection of all kinds (ENT problems, sore throats, rhinopharyngitis, sinusitis), reduce their duration, and increase the effects of conventional treatments against fungal problems and bacteria (10-11).
Other studies have shown that some of its components help stem DNA synthesis in abnormal cells, increase levels of glutathione (an endogenous antioxidant), curb lipid peroxidation, reduce oxidative stress, decrease the toxic effects on the liver caused by alcohol and certain drugs, and lessen menopause-related symptoms.
Why is red propolis so effective?
Several studies have demonstrated that red propolis is the most effective variety in terms of antioxidant potency (12). It contains more than 300 beneficial micronutrients (13):
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Volatile terpenes (limonene, terpenes, oleic acid esters …) which are partly responsible for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
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Phenols (flavonoids, lignans, tannins, coumarins …) some of which are specific to red propolis (elemicin, isoliquiritigenin, trans-anethole, methyleugenol, dalbergin, vestitol, medicarpin…) (14) and which offer marked antioxidant and cytoprotective effects (15-16).
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Triterpenes (lupeol, amyrin) to which its antimicrobial effects are partly attributed (17).
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Specific isoflavones which reduce symptoms of the menopause.
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And inorganic precious elements such as copper, manganese, iron, calcium and vanadium.
Daily dose: 2 capsules
Number of doses per pack: 30 |
Amount per dose |
Extract standardised to 20% red propolis and 7% flavonoids
|
800 mg |
Other ingredients: maltodextrin, acacia gum |
adults. Take 2 capsules a day.
Each capsule contains 400 mg of extract standardised to 20% red propolis and 7% flavonoids.
- Machado BAS, Silva RPD, Barreto GdA, Costa SS, Silva DFd, Brandão HN, et al. (2016) Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Extracts Obtained by Supercritical Extraction and Ethanolic Extraction of Brown, Green and Red Propolis Derived from Different Geographic Regions in Brazil. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0145954. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0145954
- Park YK, Ikegaki M, Alencar SM, Moura FF. Evaluation of Brazilian propolis by both physicochemical methods and biological activity. Honeybe Sci 2000; 21: 85-90.
- Oldoni TLC, Cabral ISR, D'Arce MABR, Rosalen PL, Ikegaki M, Nascimento AM, et al. Isolation and analysis of bioactive isoflavonoids and chalcone from a new type of Brazilian propolis. Separat Purif Technol 2011; 77: 208-13.
- Corbellini Rufatto L. et al. Red propolis: Chemical composition and pharmacological activity, Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2017; 7(7): 591–598
- Szliszka, E., Kucharska, A. Z., Sokół-Łętowska, A., Mertas, A., Czuba, Z. P., & Król, W. (2013). Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory effect of ethanolic extract of Brazilian green propolis on activated J774A.1 macrophages. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine976415
- Viuda-Martos, M., Ruiz-Navajas, Y., Fernandez-Lopez, J., & Perez-Alvarez, J. A. (2008). Functional properties of honey, propolis, and royal jelly. Journal of Food Science, 73(9), R117–R124.
- Ngatu NR, Saruta T, Hirota R, Eitoku M, Muzembo BA, Matsui T, et al. Antifungal efficacy of Brazilian green propolis extracts and honey on Tinea capitis and Tinea versicolor. Eur J Integr Med. 2011; 3(4): e281–e287. doi: 10.1016/j.eujim.2011.10.001
- Bufalo, M. C., Ferreira, I., Costa, G., Francisco, V., Liberal, J., Cruz, M. T., ... Sforcin, J. M. (2013). Propolis and its constituent caffeic acid suppress LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory response by blocking NF-kappaB and MAPK activation in macrophages. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 149, 84–92
- Franchi, G. C., Moraes, C. S., Toreti, V. C., Daugsch, A., Nowill, A. E., & Park, Y. K. (2012). Comparison of effects of the ethanolic extracts of Brazilian propolis on human leukemic cells as assessed with the MTT Assay. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine918956 (6).
- Crisan I, Zaharia CN, et al. Natural propolis extract NIVCRISOL in the treatment of acute and chronic rhinopharyngitis in children.Rom J Virol. 1995 Jul-Dec;46(3-4):115-33.
- Cohen HA, Varsano I, et al. Effectiveness of an herbal preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in preventing respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Mar;158(3):217-21.
- Machado BAS, Silva RPD, Barreto GdA, Costa SS, Silva DFd, Brandão HN, et al. (2016) Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Extracts Obtained by Supercritical Extraction and Ethanolic Extraction of Brown, Green and Red Propolis Derived from Different Geographic Regions in Brazil. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0145954. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0145954
- Frozza, C. O.d. S., Santos, D. A., Rufatto, L. C., Minetto, L., Scariot, F. J., Echeverrigaray, S., ... Henriques, J. A. P. (2017). Antitumor activity of Brazilian red propolis fractions against Hep-2 cancer cell line. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 91, 951–963.
- Trusheva B, Popova M, Bankova V, Simova S, Marcucci MC, Miorin PL, et al. Bioactive constituents of Brazilian red propolis. eCAM 2006; 3: 249-54.
- Balasundram N, Sundram K, Samman S. Phenolic compounds in plants and agri-industrial by-products: antioxidant activity, occurrence, and potential uses. Food Chem 2006; 99: 191-203.
- Cheynier V. Phenolic compounds: from plants to foods. Phytochem Rev 2012; 11: 153-77.
- Thimmappa R, Geisler K, Louveau T, O'Maille P, Osbourn A. Triterpene biosynthesis in plants. Ann Rev Plant Biol 2014; 65: 225-57.
- Marcucci MC. Propriedades biologicas e terap ´ euticas dos con- ˆ stituintes químicos da propolis. ´ Quím Nova 1996; 19: 529-36
- Pereira AS, Seixas FRMS, Aquino Neto FR. Propolis: 100 anos de ´ pesquisa e suas perspectivas futuras. Quím Nova 2002; 25: 321-6.
- Andrade, J. K. S., Denadai, M., de Oliveira, C. S., Nunes, M. L., & Narain, N. (2017). Evaluation of bioactive compounds potential and antioxidant activity of brown, green and red propolis from Brazilian northeast region. Food Research International, 101, 129–138. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2017.08.066
- Piccinelli AL, Lotti C, Campone L, Cuesta-Rubio O, Campo Fernandez M, Rastrelli L. Cuban and Brazilian red propolis: botanical origin and comparative analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. J Agric Food Chem 2011; 59: 6484-91.
- Clardy J, Walsh C. Lessons from natural molecules. Evid Based Complement Altern Med 2004; 432: 829-37.
- Silva BB, Rosalen PL, Cury JA, Ikegaki M, Souza VC, Esteves A, et al. Chemical composition and botanical origin of red propolis, a new type of Brazilian propolis. Evid Based Complement Altern Med 2007; 5: 313-6.
- Daugsch A, Moraes CS, Fort P, Park YK. Brazilian red propolischemical composition and botanical origin. Evid Based Complement Altern Med 2008; 5: 435-41
- López, B. G.-C., Schmidt, E. M., Eberlin, M. N., & Sawaya, A. C. H. F. (2014). Phytochemical markers of different types of red propolis. Food Chemistry, 146, 174–180.