The Use of Propolis in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Treatment

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of oral propolis in patients with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy: a Randomized controlled trial

Research published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine in 2020 reported the potential of Propolis supplements in cancerous patients who received chemotherapy. In the clinical trial, fifty breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were randomly assigned to two groups; a week prior to chemotherapy, the first group received propolis (250 mg/ twice daily for three months), and the second group received a placebo daily. The results showed that a daily supplement of propolis which started a week prior to chemotherapy showed a significant improvement of oxidant/antioxidant balance and a non-significant increase in serum concentration of protein carbonyl as a biomarker of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines of TNF-α and IL-2 in these compared to the placebo group. The authors proposed that these effects are due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of propolis.* *Darvishi, Nazila, et al. "Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of oral propolis in patients with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy: a Randomized controlled trial." Journal of Herbal Medicine 23 (2020): 100385.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2210803320300567