Solubility, odor were barriers to propolis use
A natural substance obtained from beehives may find more applications in food supplements and medicines as a result of research in England. Although it has been marketed as a traditional medicine, propolis has been of limited use to date because of its lack of solubility and its strong odor, according to the principal researcher.
Once deodorized and in soluble form, [propolis] allows us to develop products with less amount of solvent, and active ingredients are released at a faster rate, said Anant Paradkar, PhD, a professor of pharmaceutical engineering science at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation and the director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering Science at the University of Bradford, England.
Dr. Paradkar is developing a technique to purify propolis in conjunction with a manufacturer of propolis products, BeeVital - Nature s Laboratory, of Whitby, England. He said via e-mail that the current research on purifying propolis is being prepared for publication, and that trials of health drinks and milk products containing the purified substance are currently under way in Korea.
Propolis, a resinous mixture that bees use to seal their hives, has been shown to have antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects by other researchers, Dr. Paradkar said. The main deterrents to its use have been the solubility and odor issues.
The technology for preparation of deodorized, water-soluble propolis has been carefully designed so that activity is not lost, he said. We are developing novel delivery systems and exploring applications in different areas. One of our major projects is a controlled-release product for oral health care.
SOURCE:PFQ
