✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
2
Conditional
Propolis
Bee propolis
Conditionally SafeModerateOther
RDA
Typical 200–500 mg
Target
N/A
Upper limit
No UL
Products
75
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: Manuka Honey, Royal Jelly, Echinacea✅ USP Verified, NSF Contents Certified, ConsumerLab Approved
⚠ Bee-allergic patient using propolis — cross-reactivity risk [1]
⚠ Patient expecting standardized composition — propolis varies by source [1]
⚠ Immunosuppressed patient using propolis — immunostimulatory; potential conflict [1]
⚠ Patient on anticoagulants adding propolis — CAPE has antiplatelet activity [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is a food/additive in its own right, not a nutrient with a daily dietary target.
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
No routine monitoring
Reference range / target
N/A
When to test
N/A
Monitor for allergic reactions clinically [1].
Full lab monitoring ↓
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Propolis is a genuine antimicrobial and immunomodulatory bee product with systematic review support for URI reduction and oral health. The two critical clinical points: (1) composition varies dramatically by geography — Brazilian green ≠ European poplar propolis; (2) bee-allergic patients must avoid or test cautiously. CAPE (NF-κB inhibitor) is the most pharmacologically interesting component [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Insufficient data. Generally considered low-risk at food doses. Avoid concentrated extracts [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Propolis throat sprays and lozenges used for children's sore throats. Avoid in children with known bee product allergies [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: BID with food. Throat spray: as needed [1].
💊 With food: With food to reduce GI irritation [1].
🚫 Avoid: Use in bee-allergic individuals without testing. Immunostimulatory use in immunosuppressed patients [1].
2 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['Propolis extract (capsules, standardized)', 'preferred', 'Standardized to flavonoid/CAPE content. 300–500 mg BID [1].']StandardCheck label
['Propolis tincture (alcohol extract)', 'traditional', '10–20 drops in water TID. Beekeeping tradition [1].']StandardCheck label
['Propolis throat spray', 'popular', 'For sore throat and oral health. Direct mucosal application [1].']StandardCheck label
['Raw propolis chunks', 'traditional', 'Chewed directly. Strong taste. Variable potency [1].']StandardCheck label
['Brazilian green propolis (artepillin C-rich)', 'premium', 'Unique composition from Baccharis dracunculifolia. Higher artepillin C. Most-studied type for immunomodulation [1].']StandardCheck label
3 Common questions
I'm allergic to bee stings — can I use propolis? ▼
Use with extreme caution. Propolis contains some of the same proteins found in bee venom, and cross-reactivity is documented. Start with a tiny amount (1 drop of tincture) and wait 24 hours for any reaction. Better yet, avoid propolis entirely if you have confirmed bee venom allergy [1].
Does propolis composition vary? ▼
Dramatically. European propolis (poplar-type) is rich in pinocembrin and CAPE. Brazilian green propolis contains artepillin C (from Baccharis plants). Brazilian red propolis has unique isoflavones. Tropical propolis differs from temperate. This compositional variability is propolis's biggest quality challenge [1].
Can propolis replace antibiotics? ▼
No. While propolis has genuine antimicrobial activity, it is not potent enough to replace antibiotics for bacterial infections. It is best used for prevention (immune support) and mild self-limiting infections (URI, sore throat) [1] [2].
Is propolis vegan? ▼
No. Propolis is an animal (bee) product, though it is derived from plant resins. It is not suitable for strict vegans [1].
4 Clinical evidence

Strong

No single Cochrane review for propolis specifically [1]. HIGH

Moderate

Upper respiratory infections: a systematic review of 4 RCTs found propolis reduced URI symptom duration and severity compared with placebo [2]. Oral health: propolis mouthwash significantly reduced plaque formation and gingivitis scores in 5 dental RCTs [2]. Genital herpes: 3% propolis ointment healed lesions faster than acyclovir in 1 RCT (n=90) [1]. Blood glucose: Brazilian green propolis (300 mg TID) reduced HbA1c and improved renal function markers in 1 RCT of T2DM patients (n=66) [1]. MODERATE

Insufficient

Cancer: extensive preclinical data (CAPE as NF-κB inhibitor); no phase III trials [1]. Allergic rhinitis: 1 small RCT with mixed results [1]. Inflammatory bowel disease: preclinical only [1]. Skin aging: topical antioxidant claims; minimal clinical data [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Absolute contraindications

✕ Bee-product/propolis allergy — can cause severe allergic and contact reactions

Relative

⚠ Asthma/atopy — higher reaction risk
⚠ Anticoagulants — possible additive effect
⚠ Pregnancy and lactation — limited data

🚩 Red flags

● Patient with bee venom allergy using propolis — anaphylaxis risk [1]
● Patient with oral mucosal irritation from propolis spray — discontinue [1]
● Transplant patient using propolis for 'immune boost' — immunostimulation opposes immunosuppression [1]
6 Interactions

Drug interactions

Anticoagulants (warfarin) Moderate
Mechanism: CAPE has antiplatelet properties [1].
Effect: Theoretical increased bleeding risk [1].
Action: Monitor INR [1].

Supplement synergies

Manuka Honey · Propolis tincture + manuka honey
Complementary antimicrobial mechanisms: propolis (flavonoids) + manuka (MGO) [1].
Echinacea · Standard doses of each during cold season
Dual immune stimulation for URI prevention [1].
7 Regulatory
European Union: Available as food supplement. Propolis is a traditional apitherapy product across Europe [1].
Brazil: Major producer and researcher of propolis. Brazilian green propolis has specific quality standards [1].
United States (FDA): Available as dietary supplement. Not FDA-approved for medical claims [1].
Japan/Korea: Popular functional food ingredient with established market presence [1].
8 US supplement products
75
on-market products containing Propolis (NIH DSLD)

Brands carrying Propolis (47)

Click a brand to see its Propolis products.
Or browse all 75 products in one list →
9 Frequently paired with
Silicon 33 sharedZinc 20 sharedVitamin C 19 shared
Propolis vs Manuka HoneyPropolis vs Royal Jelly
10 References (4)
[1]Bankova VS, et al. Propolis: recent advances in chemistry and plant origin. Apidologie. 2000;31(1):3-15. doi:10.1051/apido:2000102 REVIEW Accessed: 2026-05-29
[2]Braakhuis A. Evidence on the health benefits of supplemental propolis. Nutrients. 2019;11(11):2705. doi:10.3390/nu11112705 REVIEW Accessed: 2026-05-29
[3]Vynograd N, et al. A comparative multi-centre study of the efficacy of propolis, acyclovir and placebo in the treatment of genital herpes (HSV). Phytomedicine. 2000;7(1):1-6. doi:10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80014-8 REVIEW Accessed: 2026-05-29
[4]Afsharpour F, et al. Propolis supplementation improves glycemic and antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Complement Ther Med. 2019;43:283-288. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.03.001 RCT Accessed: 2026-05-29
11 Related articles
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12 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Propolis — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jun 01]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/propolis/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Propolis — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/propolis/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: December 2026
References: 4 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Propolis — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/propolis/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG