Прополіс

Role in the hive

Bees use propolis as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the beehive. Bees also use it for protection against predators and microorganisms, to repair damage and as a thermal isolator. Honey bees line the interior of their nests with a propolis envelope. Propolis is held responsible for the lower incidence of microorganisms within the hive than in the atmosphere outside. Propolis is hard and breakable when cold but soft, flexible and very sticky when warm.

Composition

Propolis contains plant resins, beeswax, pollen and volatile compounds, in proportions that vary between samples. Hundreds of chemical constituents have been identified across different types of propolis, including flavonoids, phenolic acids and their esters, and terpenoids. Commonly quoted fixed percentages of resin, wax, pollen and essential oils have been criticized as unsubstantiated. The composition of propolis varies from hive to hive, from district to district and from season to season.

Volatile compounds

Recent publications report volatile oils at usually up to 1% of propolis, rarely 2 to 3%. In most European propolis samples studied, sesquiterpenes predominate in the volatile oils, followed by aromatic compounds such as benzyl acetate, benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol. When hives are treated against Varroa mites, mainly with thymol, the volatile oils of propolis can be dominated up to 70 to 80% by thymol.

Types and origins

Poplar-type propolis is common in temperate regions, including Europe, North America and western Asia. In the temperate zone the basic plant source is the bud exudate of trees of the genus Populus, mainly the black poplar P. nigra. Brazilian green propolis is derived principally from Baccharis dracunculifolia.

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