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Review
. 2022 Oct 8;27(19):6694.
doi: 10.3390/molecules27196694.

Allergic Inflammation: Effect of Propolis and Its Flavonoids

Nada Oršolić  1
Affiliations
Review

Allergic Inflammation: Effect of Propolis and Its Flavonoids

Nada Oršolić. Molecules. .

Abstract

The incidence of allergic diseases and their complications are increasing worldwide. Today, people increasingly use natural products, which has been termed a "return to nature". Natural products with healing properties, especially those obtained from plants and bees, have been used in the prevention and treatment of numerous chronic diseases, including allergy and/or inflammation. Propolis is a multi-component resin rich in flavonoids, collected and transformed by honeybees from buds and plant wounds for the construction and adaptation of their nests. This article describes the current views regarding the possible mechanisms and multiple benefits of flavonoids in combating allergy and allergy-related complications. These benefits arise from flavonoid anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and wound healing activities and their effects on microbe-immune system interactions in developing host responses to different allergens. Finally, this article presents various aspects of allergy pathobiology and possible molecular approaches in their treatment. Possible mechanisms regarding the antiallergic action of propolis on the microbiota of the digestive and respiratory tracts and skin diseases as a method to selectively remove allergenic molecules by the process of bacterial biotransformation are also reported.

Keywords: allergy; anti-allergic; anti-inflammatory; antioxidative effects of propolis; inflammatory cells; propolis; propolis sensitization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Inflammatory reaction: physiological and pathological consequences of inflammation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Adverse reactions to food.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effector mechanism in allergic reaction.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Inflammatory pathways as potential targets for propolis and related flavonoids in allergy treatment. Propolis and its components, with their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities, modulate the activity of inflammatory cells, enzymes and pro-inflammatory genes as well as gut microbiome and immune function. By blocking the accumulation of inflammatory cells, such as phagocytic cells, mast cells and endothelial cells, they reduce the production of important inflammatory mediators including proteins, peptides, glycoproteins, cytokines, arachidonic acid metabolites (prostaglandins and leukotrienes), nitric oxide, and oxygen free radicals. ROS/NO produced by inflammatory and endothelial cells can lead to tissue damage as well as activation of NF-κB, which regulates many aspects of innate and adaptive immune functions and serves as a key mediator of inflammatory reactions. Note: ROS, Reactive oxygen species; NO, Nitric oxide; NF-κB, Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; COX-2, Cyclo-oxygenase-2; MMPs, Matrix metalloproteinases; TNF-α, Tumor necrosis factor alpha; PGs, Prostaglandins responses.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Numerous factors affect the development of the infant gut microbiome composition. The neonatal microbiome is a delicate and highly dynamic ecosystem that undergoes rapid changes in composition in the first few years of life determined by several prenatal (maternal genetic, environmental, diet, use probiotics, prebiotic, geographic location); natal (mode of delivery vaginal or cesarean, birth weight, gestational age) and postnatal factors (breast milk, use of antibiotics or gastric acidity inhibitors, use of antiseptic agents, rural environment, junk food-based and/or low-fiber/high-fat diet, consumption of unpasteurized milk or fermented foods, reduced consumption of omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids or vitamin D insufficiency, antioxidants, exposure to pets). All genetic, environmental, and dietary factors could modulate the gut microbiome-immune system axis influencing the occurrence of food allergy. The process of early colonization by a “healthy” microbiome is emerging as a key determinant of life-long health. In stark contrast, the perturbation of such a process, which results in changes in the host-microbiome biodiversity and metabolic activities, has been associated with greater susceptibility to immune-mediated disorders later in life, including allergic diseases.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The main benefit of propolis and its flavonoids as prebiotics and their potential mechanism of action on the intestinal microbiota under physiological and pathological conditions, such as allergic diseases and metabolic disorders.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Propolis and flavonoids as candidates for preventing the development of inflammatory diseases, allergies, autoimmunity and cancer or as supplements to the management of basophils (a) and/or eosinophil-mediated diseases (b). Propolis and its flavonoid components can regulate basophils and/or eosinophil-mediated diseases by their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic effects or through modulation of intestinal microbiota and epigenetic mechanisms.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Propolis and flavonoids as candidates for preventing the development of inflammatory diseases, allergies, autoimmunity and cancer or as supplements to the management of basophils (a) and/or eosinophil-mediated diseases (b). Propolis and its flavonoid components can regulate basophils and/or eosinophil-mediated diseases by their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic effects or through modulation of intestinal microbiota and epigenetic mechanisms.
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