HOW SHOULD PROPOLIS BE CONSUMED?

Propolis cannot be digested in the body in its raw form when it is first collected from the hives, and it is not in the properties to be taken as a nutritional supplement. In a study, it was revealed that propolis in its raw form can be digested at the most 2% in the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the bioavailability of propolis and make it suitable for human consumption. For this, extraction must be done by experts under appropriate conditions. In this extraction stage, wax and other impurities in propolis are separated, giving it antimicrobial, antioxidant, etc. beneficial components are extracted.

Solvent type is as important as propolis quality in propolis extracts. Because the biological value that is tried to be obtained with propolis depends only on the performance of the solvent. Today, propolis all over the world; The use of ethanol and alcohol-derived solvents is the most preferred method when prepared alone or with mixtures. Because the most efficient solvent in obtaining secondary compounds that provide biological value by extracting propolis is ethanol or glycol, etc. There are studies showing that they are solvents.

Another subject of studies conducted in recent years is the use of natural solvents to obtain propolis with high bioactivity. It has been stated in the literature that propolis, which is exposed to solvents such as water and olive oil, cannot provide sufficient antioxidant effect. According to the results of the analysis on propolis product samples in the market, water and olive oil etc. It has been reported that both phenolic-flavonoid composition and antioxidant capacity values of propolis extracts containing ethanol and glycol are quite high compared to solvents.

So, how should the use of propolis, which is so beneficial, be? Since pure propolis tastes bitter, there are propolis capsules, propolis effervescent, propolis liquid forms prepared as supplements. In addition, there is no set upper limit for propolis. The important thing when using propolis is to have a food supplement approval number and to use it regularly in line with the amounts determined on the package.