Antioxidant effects and bioavailability evaluation of propolis extract and its content of pure polyphenols

Authors: Yasmina Mokhtaria Boufadi, Pierre Van Antwerpen, Jean Nève, Nadia Djennas, Ali Riaz, Jalal Soubhye

First published: 27 September 2017Full publication history

DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.12434

Abstract

Propolis is a resinous mixture which honey bees collect from buds and bark of some trees. It contains several antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids. This paper describes the antioxidant capacity of propolis extracts and pure polyphenols in vivo. Several biological parameters were measured after promoting oxidative stress. All the homeostasis changes and liver, kidney, and lung damage were restored by propolis extract. Propolis extracts directly modulated lipid peroxidation where LDL level decreased from 1.3 to 0.8 g/L after giving propolis, illustrating the antioxidant contribution of propolis. Finally, orally administered pure antioxidant compounds such as caffeic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol at the doses corresponding to in vitro antioxidant capacity of the propolis extract did not restore the physiological parameters. Bioavailability study demonstrated that the isolated polyphenols have lower absorption (plasma Cmax of polyphenols = 15–20 µg/mL) than the complex extract of propolis (plasma Cmax of polyphenols = 40–50 µg/mL).

 

* THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.