The use of propolis as a functional food ingredient: A review

IRIGOITI, YANET; NAVARRO, ALBA; YAMUL, DIEGO; LIBONATTI, CARINA; TABERA, ANAHI; BASUALDO, MARINA

TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (REGULAR ED.)

ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON

Año: 2021 vol. 115 p. 297 - 306

0924-2244

Background: Propolis is a resinous product collected by bees from different plant species that contains numerouscompounds with biological activity like antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, among others. Theseproperties make propolis the ideal candidate to be used as a functional ingredient in foods, beyond its known useas an additive.Scope and approach: This article provides a review of the latest papers about the chemical composition (especiallypolyphenols, flavonoids and terpenes), antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties of propolis as a functionalfood ingredient. Besides, this article also reviews the newest technologies developed to incorporatepropolis in food systems keeping its antioxidant properties and masking its off-flavour.Key findings and conclusions: Despite the differences in the chemical composition of propolis from all over theworld, all of them show antioxidant and pharmacological activity making propolis an attractive natural productto be included in foods as a functional ingredient. Many researchers have proposed the use of encapsulationtechniques like spray drying, which allows transforming the ethanolic propolis extract into an easily-handledalcohol-free powder appropriate to be incorporated in food systems. The inclusion of propolis in nanoparticles,biopolymers films and sucrose matrix is also promising. Based on the papers reviewed, further studiesare needed relating the incorporation of propolis in foodstuffs, the dose at which its antioxidant or biologicalproperties are effective and the sensory properties of the final product.