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Promising Anti-Protozoan Activities of Propolis (Bee Glue) as Natural Product: A Review

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Abstract

Purpose

Propolis (bee glue) is a resinous mixture of different plant exudates that possesses a wide range of biological and antimicrobial activities and has been used as a food supplement and in complementary medicine for centuries. Some researchers have proposed that propolis could be a potential curative compound against microbial agents such as protozoan parasitic infections by different and occasionally unknown mechanisms due to the immunoregulatory function and antioxidant capacity of this natural product.

Methods

In this review, we concentrate on in vitro and in vivo anti-protozoan activities of propolis extracts/fractions in the published literature.

Results

In Leishmania, propolis inhibits the proliferation of promastigotes and produces an anti-inflammatory effect via the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. In addition, it increases macrophage activation, TLR-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-17 production, and downregulation of IL-12. In Plasmodium and Trypanosoma, propolis inhibits the parasitemia, improving anemia and increasing the IFN-γ, TNF-α, and GM-CSF cytokines levels, most likely due to its strong immunomodulatory activity. Moreover, propolis extract arrests proliferation of T. cruzi, because it has aromatic acids and flavonoids. In toxoplasmosis, propolis increases the specific IgM and IgG titers via decreasing the serum IFN-γ, IL-1, and IL-6 cytokines levels in the rats infected with T. gondii. In Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it decreases oocysts shedding due to phytochemical constituents, particularly phenolic compounds, and increases the number of goblet cells. Propolis inhibits the growth of Blastocystis, possibly by apoptotic mechanisms like metronidazole. Unfortunately, the mechanism action of propolis’ anti-Trichomonas and anti-Acanthamoeba is not well-known yet.

Conclusion

Reviewing the related literature could highlight promising antimicrobial activities of propolis against intracellular and extracellular protozoan parasites; this could shed light on the exploration of more effective drugs for the treatment of protozoan parasitic infections in the near future.

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Acknowledgements

We also would like to thank of financial support by Vice Chancellors for Research of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran (Grant number: 6873).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Zoonoses, Parasitic and Microbial Diseases, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran

    Shabnam Asfaram

  2. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis and Toxoplasmosis, Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Farah-Abad Road, P.O Box: 48471-91971, Sari, Iran

    Shabnam Asfaram, Mahdi Fakhar & Masoud Keighobadi

  3. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Javad Akhtari

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  1. Shabnam Asfaram
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  2. Mahdi Fakhar
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  3. Masoud Keighobadi
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  4. Javad Akhtari
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Contributions

MF and MK designed the study and revised the manuscript. SA wrote the draft of the manuscript. JA performed paper selection processing and critical review. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mahdi Fakhar or Masoud Keighobadi.

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The authors declare there are no competing interests.

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This study was reviewed and approved by the ethical committee at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (IR.MAZUMS.REC.1398. 6873).

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Asfaram, S., Fakhar, M., Keighobadi, M. et al. Promising Anti-Protozoan Activities of Propolis (Bee Glue) as Natural Product: A Review. Acta Parasit. 66, 1–12 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-020-00254-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-020-00254-7

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