Are propolis extracts potential pharmacological agents in human oral health? - A scoping review and technology prospecting

Andressa da Silva Barboza; Juan Pablo Aitken-Saavedra; Monika Lamas Ferreira; Andreza Maria Fábio Aranha; Rafael Guerra Lund

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.113846

Are propolis extracts potential pharmacological agents in human oral health? - A scoping review and technology prospecting

J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 May 10:271:113846. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113846. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

Authors

Andressa da Silva Barboza¹, Juan Pablo Aitken-Saavedra², Monika Lamas Ferreira¹, Andreza Maria Fábio Aranha³, Rafael Guerra Lund⁴

Affiliations

¹ Post-graduate Program in Dentistry, Laboratory of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
² Post-graduate Program in Dentistry, Laboratory of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
³ Post-graduate Program in Integrated Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Cuiabá, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
⁴ Post-graduate Program in Dentistry, Laboratory of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Biochemistry and Bioprospecting, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: rglund@ufpel.edu.br.

PMID: 33485981
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113846

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The antimicrobial potential of propolis - a honey bee product - was correlated with its traditional use as a natural medicine, mainly known for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Moreover, research on natural products in dentistry has increased in recent years in the search for products with greater therapeutic activity, lower toxicity, better biocompatibility, and more affordable cost to the population.

Objective: Considering that the beneficial effect of propolis is acknowledged for several oral conditions, this study aimed to synthesize the research and technological forecasts of existing evidence on the use of propolis extract as a potential antimicrobial agent in dentistry.

Methods: Studies were identified through an investigation in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Scielo electronic databases. Additionally, the following patent databases were screened: Google Patents, WIPO, INPI, Espacenet, and Questel Orbit. The data were tabulated and analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2013 and Questel Orbit.

Results: A total of 174 scientific articles and 276 patents fulfilled all the criteria and were included in the investigation. The highest number of patents (n = 144) was produced by China. Additionally, the most prevalent studies were performed on an experimental basis (72%), followed by clinical studies (n = 27) and review articles (n = 21). The effect of using propolis has been extensively observed in oral care products, periodontics, pathology, and cariology, among other dental specialties.

Conclusion: It was possible to identify the current scientific and technological scenario of the application of propolis in dentistry, with the number of patents increasing in recent years. However, all studies related to the use of propolis in dentistry have shown a potentially safe antimicrobial agent in an extensive field of application.

Keywords: Anti-bacterial agents; Anti-infective agents; Intellectual property; Patents; Propolis; Scoping review.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
Bacteria / drug effects
Dental Materials
Dentistry / methods*
Humans
Oral Health*
Patents as Topic / statistics & numerical data*
Propolis / chemistry
Propolis / pharmacology*
Propolis / therapeutic use

Substances

Anti-Infective Agents
Dental Materials
Propolis