Mechanistic Insights into Honeybee Propolis as a Natural Modulator of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: A Narrative Review

Ahlam Omer (Department of Medical Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq)
Shelan Rasool (Department of Anatomy, Biology, and Histology, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, 42001, Iraq)
Hazhmat Ali (Department of Medical Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq)

Indonesian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
Vol 6, No 2 (2026): May–August 2026

Honeybee propolis has been used as a natural remedy for centuries to treat various diseases. This review examines the mechanistic basis of propolis's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as its therapeutic applications. A narrative methodology was utilized, incorporating a comprehensive literature search to identify relevant, high-quality evidence from major biomedical databases. The evidence suggests that propolis exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, primarily attributed to its diverse phytochemical composition, including caffeic acid phenethyl ester and flavonoids. These compounds regulate inflammatory signaling pathways, particularly the nuclear factor κB pathway. Furthermore, the bioactive constituents exhibit strong free radical-scavenging activity, supporting the restoration of normal cellular metabolism. Although propolis exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, most supporting evidence is derived from in vitro and preclinical studies. The limited availability of clinical data necessitates cautious interpretation of these results. Large-scale clinical trials and standardized formulations are required to establish robust evidence of its efficacy.