Pharmacological actions of extracts of propolis of stingless bees (Meliponini)

摘要

The propolis of native stingless bees has the potential for the development of pharmacological compounds with antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In Brazil, the high number of stingless bee species, together with the great plant diversity used in propolis production shows the complexity of the subject. The data available regarding the chemical composition and procedures for the extraction of the propolis are currently meagre and inconclusive. In this review, we summarize our understanding to date, of the propolis found in stingless bee nests and discuss its potential for therapeutic applications.