Advanced trends of propolis in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications

Abstract

For many years, the use of natural products derived from propolis has become an escalating interest worldwide, mainly because of its minimum side effects and being less expensive compared to other synthetic products. Nowadays, the growth of propolis products has attracted a lot of companies especially those related to pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, giving rise to many clinical studies and scientific validations on propolis. Due to its diverse biological properties, propolis has been considered as one of the main ingredients in cosmetics applications. Recent studies have reported on the anti-aging, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant effects of propolis. Additionally, propolis has been reported to stimulate the growth of skin tissue, protect skin from photodamage and free radicals, prevent premature skin ageing, and help extinguish acne, especially for those with sensitive and acne-prone skin. Propolis products have been manufactured into several daily products including serum, creams, lipstick, soap, hair conditioner, makeup powder, nail polish, lotions, and other skincare products. This chapter focuses on the recent studies of propolis and its potential pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. With the advancement in research especially in propolis products, numerous fields and/or areas will benefit from this study, thus, it could also result in better disease treatment and improve the cosmetic aspects.