Propolis is a natural product originating from life activity of honeybees. It exhibits wide range of biological properties applicable in medicine, the food industry, and cosmetics. Chemically, propolis is a complex and variable mixture with more than 300 identified biologically active components. Propolis's many health-promoting effects are attributed to different biochemical mechanisms, mediated by often-concerted actions of some of its many constituents. Propolis is considered safe and biocompatible. Yet due to its intrinsic complexity, standardization of propolis preparations for medical use as well as prediction of e.g. pathogen-specific interactions becomes a non-trivial task. In this work we demonstrate a new physical mechanism of propolis action, largely independent of specific nuances of propolis chemistry, which may underlie some of its biological actions. We show that propolis-bearing surfaces generate an extensive exclusion zone (EZ) water layer. EZ is an interfacial region of water capable of excluding solutes ranging from ions to microorganisms. Propolis-generated EZ may constitute an effective barrier, physically disabling the approach of various pathogens to the propolis-functionalized surfaces. We suggest possible implications of this new mechanism for propolis-based prevention of respiratory infections.

蜂胶是源自蜜蜂生命活动的天然产物。它具有广泛的生物学特性，适用于医药，食品工业和化妆品。从化学上讲，蜂胶是一种复杂的可变混合物，具有300多种已确定的生物活性成分。蜂胶的许多促进健康的作用归因于不同的生化机制，这是由其许多成分中某些经常被证实的作用所介导的。蜂胶被认为是安全和生物相容的。然而，由于其固有的复杂性，用于医疗用途的蜂胶制剂的标准化以及例如对病原体特异性相互作用的预测成为一项艰巨的任务。在这项工作中，我们展示了蜂胶作用的新物理机制，在很大程度上与蜂胶化学的细微差别无关，这可能是其某些生物学行为的基础。我们表明，带有蜂胶的表面会产生广泛的排斥区（EZ）水层。EZ是水的界面区域，能够排除从离子到微生物的溶质。蜂胶生成的EZ可能构成有效的屏障，从物理上使各种病原体无法进入蜂胶功能化的表面。我们建议这种基于蜂胶的呼吸道感染预防新机制的可能含义。在物理上使各种病原体无法进入蜂胶功能化表面。我们建议这种基于蜂胶的呼吸道感染预防新机制的可能含义。在物理上使各种病原体无法进入蜂胶功能化表面。我们建议这种基于蜂胶的呼吸道感染预防新机制的可能含义。