NEWS IN BRIEF

Beehive Botanicals adopts propolis through ABC's Adopt-an-Herb Program

By Adi Menayang

- Last updated on GMT

Getty Images / Rugli G
Getty Images / Rugli G
Wisconsin-based Beehive Botanicals has adopted propolis, a plant-derived bee product that has been used medicinally by humans for centuries, through ABC's Adopt-An-Herb Program.

With the adoption, Beehive Botanicals support ABC’s HerbMedPro online database, ensuring that the education resource remains up to date for researchers, health professionals, industry, students, consumers, and members of the herbal and dietary supplements community.

“We are deeply grateful for Beehive Botanicals’ adoption of propolis on ABC’s HerbMedPro website,”​ said ABC founder and executive director Mark Blumenthal. “As a former beekeeper, I personally appreciate the opportunity for ABC to create an HerbMedPro record on the scientific and clinical research on this fascinating healing substance.”

“Beehive Botanicals is committed to quality, purity, and integrity,”​ said Michelle Forrester, the company’s chief financial officer, adding that participation in the Adopt-an-Herb program reflects the company’s commitment to integrity by providing unbiased information on the benefits of propolis.

Propolis, or bee glue, is a complex, sticky, resinous, wax-like mixture that is produced by some bee species, including the Western, or European, honeybee (Apis mellifera​, which is managed widely by beekeepers) and some stingless bees (meliponines).

To make propolis, these bees collect plant secretions (lipophilic materials on leaves and leaf buds, mucilages, gums, resins, latexes, etc.) and often mix them with beeswax and saliva and sometimes other substances, such as honey. Some meliponines are known to also sometimes mix in earth (clay, mud, etc.) when making propolis, but A. mellifera​ reportedly is not known to do this.

The bees may cut plant tissues to release the exudate used to make propolis and may also collect material exuded from preexisting wounds in plants. The chemical composition of propolis can vary significantly and depends mainly on the plant species near the hive, but also on seasons, altitude, illumination, the collecting bee species, and other factors. Propolis consists mainly of plant resins and beeswax and contains essential oils, phenolic compounds, and pollen.

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