Unlocking Nature’s Pharmacy: Exploring the Power of African Propolis by Dr. Shankar Katekhaye, Director of Research & Quality at Nature's Laboratory.

05 June 2025

Propolis is a sticky, wax-like material that bees produce by mixing plant resins with wax and enzymes. Bees use it to seal and sterilize their hives, but for humans, it's been prized for centuries for its medicinal properties.

Its composition varies significantly — the differences are due to the plants around the beehives and even the local bee species. This variation affects the biological activity of the propolis, thus establishing the quality of the raw material is an important aspect in producing bee medicines and herbal medicines.

Over two decades Nature’s Laboratory (NL) has been conducting advanced research into bee medicine. One such collaboration with the University of Bradford (UoB) (through Innovate UK supported Knowledge Transfer Partnerships fellowship) has seen NL making efforts to find a source of propolis with the best chemical profile and biological activity.

Joint research has resulted in a research article published in the journal "Future Integrative Medicine" focusing on standardisation and biological testing of 17 African propolis samples. The study concludes with the development of a reliable tool for the standardization and quality evaluation of propolis. The flavonoid and phenolic contents are key contributors to the antioxidant activity of propolis and reflect local plant biodiversity and bee–plant interactions within the ecosystem. Bioactivity of the propolis samples strongly correlates with high flavonoid and phenolic content, reinforcing the value of these compounds as bioactivity markers.

This research matters as it supports the idea that African propolis could be standardized and commercialized as a reliable source of a natural product — important for combating oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic disease. Moreover, naringenin, a flavonoid found in nearly all samples, could potentially serve as a universal quality marker for African propolis in the future.

We advocate for broader sampling across the African continent and additional bioactivity testing using multiple testing methods. Research with our collaborators is continuous for testing the antimicrobial potential, particularly antibiofilm potential, of the propolis.

African propolis is rich in naturally occurring compounds with impressive potential, including antioxidant qualities which can be used in a range of products from supplements to skincare — offering a buzz-worthy boost from nature’s own pharmacy.

Our Nature’s Laboratory inhouse research team of Dr. Shankar Katekhaye (Director Research and Quality), Dr. Bhagyashree Kamble (Senior Scientist) and Mr. James Fearnley (CEO) share their success with collaborators from the University of Bradford, Prof. Anant Paradkar (Director, Centre for Pharmaceutical Engineering Science, UoB) and Ms Ghaida Mustafa (PhD fellow).

Follow the link below for further reading into this research article. Reach out to us if you wish to know more on the research activities ongoing at Nature's laboratory.

https://www.xiahepublishing.com/2835-6357/FIM-2025-00004