ReviewClinical reviews in allergy & immunology2013
The immunomodulatory and anticancer properties of propolis.
Review in Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 80 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
80 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 237 citations in OpenAlex.
- Propolis and Its Gastroprotective Effects on NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review.Nutrients · 2021Pooled it
- Effect of propolis on mood, quality of life, and metabolic profiles in subjects with metabolic syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.Scientific reports · 2023Trial
- Efficacy of Brazilian green propolis (EPP-AF®) as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A randomized, controlled clinical trial.Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie · 2021Trial
- Brazilian Green Propolis Improves Antioxidant Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2016Trial
- The potential of bee products in clinical trials focused on the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy used for cancer treatment.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026Review
- Stingless bee propolis promotes hair follicle regeneration and melanocyte function in chemotherapy-induced alopecia mouse model.Experimental animals · 2026Article
- Hypoxia-Driven Functional Conversion of CAPE: From Anti-Inflammatory to Pro-Tumorigenic Action in the Human Astrocytoma Cell Line CCF-SSTG1.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Potential Therapeutic Actions of Flavonoids Present in Propolis That Modulate Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling to Regulate Angiogenesis.Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2025Review
- Antimicrobial Properties of Hive Products and Their Potential Applications in Human and Veterinary Medicine.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Propolis mouthwashes efficacy in managing gingivitis and periodontitis: a systematic review of the latest findings.BDJ open · 2025Article
- Article
- A Path to the Formation Mechanism of Propolis Nanoparticles, their Cytotoxicity on 3T3 Fibroblasts, Metastatic Murine B16F10 Cells, and theirAnti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry · 2025Article
- Endodontic Applications of Propolis in Primary and Permanent Teeth: A Scoping Review of Clinical Studies.European endodontic journal · 2024Article
- Caffeic acid phenethyl ester derivative exerts remarkable anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect, non-inferior to sorafenib, in vivo analysis.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Propolis Use in Dentistry: A Narrative Review of Its Preventive and Therapeutic Applications.International dental journal · 2024Review
- Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) Synergistically Enhances Paclitaxel Activity in Ovarian Cancer Cells.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE): Biosynthesis, Derivatives and Formulations with Neuroprotective Activities.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Seasonal Sonoran Propolis Extracts and Some of Their Main Constituents.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Improving productivity in rabbits by using some natural feed additives under hot environmental conditions - A review.Animal bioscience · 2023Article
- Ameliorative effects of propolis upon reproductive toxicity in males.Clinical and experimental reproductive medicine · 2023Article
20 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Propolis, a waxy substance produced by the honeybee, has been adopted as a form of folk medicine since ancient times. It has a wide spectrum of alleged applications including potential anti-infection and anticancer effects. Many of the therapeutic effects can be attributed to its immunomodulatory functions. The composition of propolis can vary according to the geographic locations from where the bees obtained the ingredients. Two main immunopotent chemicals have been identified as caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and artepillin C. Propolis, CAPE, and artepillin C have been shown to exert summative immunosuppressive function on T lymphocyte subsets but paradoxically activate macrophage function. On the other hand, they also have potential antitumor properties by different postulated mechanisms such as suppressing cancer cells proliferation via its anti-inflammatory effects; decreasing the cancer stem cell populations; blocking specific oncogene signaling pathways; exerting antiangiogenic effects; and modulating the tumor microenvironment. The good bioavailability by the oral route and good historical safety profile makes propolis an ideal adjuvant agent for future immunomodulatory or anticancer regimens. However, standardized quality controls and good design clinical trials are essential before either propolis or its active ingredients can be adopted routinely in our future therapeutic armamentarium.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.