In ancient civilizations, propolis, a compound produced by bees which makes up the structure of hives, was widely used as a natural remedy to treat wounds and infections, and even to embalm mummies in Egypt, with documentation of its benefits spanning the past 5,000 years.  
 
Today, preliminary clinical trials suggest that it may support the structure and function of the immune system. Today, ingredient supplier PLT Health Solutions announced the launch of a propolis ingredient within its immune health portfolio, called Promunel.
 
The ingredient, manufactured by the Italian propolis specialist company B Natural, is now available to North American markets via PLT’s distribution. According to PLT, the advantages of Promunel over conventional propolis ingredients are its formulation, designed to ensure quality and consistency of raw materials, as well as the use of B Natural’s proprietary Multi-Dynamic Extraction (MED) technology, which produces an ingredient standardized to six bioactive polyphenols with antimicrobial activity, allowing for greater ease in formulating the product into supplements or foods.
 
Promunel has been the subject of a clinical trial which found significance in its efficacy to support upper respiratory tract health and ameliorate symptoms of uncomplicated respiratory tract infection (URTI) when used as an oral spray. Among 122 healthy adults, 83% of those who received the spray had a remission of symptoms after three days, while those in the placebo group still had at least one remaining symptom.
 
“Although many people use propolis supplements to support immune function, clinical trials of oral propolis for this purpose have been lacking. Promunel changes that landscape,” Jeremy Appleton, ND, director of medical and scientific affairs at PLT, said. “Propolis has been used medicinally since antiquity, and numerous mechanisms of action are well established in the literature, particularly regarding the individual polyphenols to which Promunel is standardized. But at PLT, we want to see evidence of efficacy in the people who are using the exact article of commerce, preferably published in a reputable, peer-reviewed medical journal. Promunel has that. You won’t find another propolis on the market with double-blind clinical research validating its efficacy for upper respiratory tract health. A double-blind clinical trial, recently published in the prestigious journal Phytomedicine, showed that Promunel cut two days off recovery time.” 
 
Ordinarily, propolis, the “glue” that forms the structure of a bee hive, contains 300 active compounds which contribute to an aseptic environment to preserve the health of the colony against pathogens, Sid Hulse, vice president of product development at PLT Health Solutions, said.
 
“Despite having 50,000 inhabitants, a humidity of 90%, and an internal temperature of nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the beehive is one of the most sterile environments in nature,” Hulse said. “Propolis functions as the hive’s immune system. With Promunel, we have taken propolis as a starting point and created an ingredient that, because of standardization, can be reproducibly studied in a clinical setting, and because of its form, can be incorporated into a wide range of consumer health products.”
 
Promunel can be formulated into sprays, lozenges, softgels, tablets, capsules, gummies, chews, and stick packs.
 
Sourcing and Processing Requires Tight Controls
Propolis is a resinous substance that honeybees produce by mixing saliva, beeswax, and material gathered from plants used to seal open spaces in a hive. It has been shown to provide anti-fungal and antibacterial properties to a nest, which is the basis for its health-promoting properties in people, PLT said. Its composition varies drastically based on geographic region, the bee species, local flora, and the season of the year. Promunel Ultra Performance Propolis is sourced from a limited number of carefully screened beekeeping operations along the 45^th Parallel above the Equator in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
 
The purification process used by B Natural involves purification of raw material, removal of waxes and resins, extraction, and concentration to create a base ingredient containing up to 50% polyphenols, maximizing the six most bioactive polyphenols in propolis, which are chrysin, galangin, pinocembrin, apigenin, pinobanksin, and quercetin. This approach reduces the variability of propolis while maintaining the integral pattern of polyphenols, ensuring a consistent dosage in a material that is easier to formulate with due to the reduced viscosity.
 
Friends of the Bees
Hulse said that the commitment B Natural makes toward protecting and growing the world’s honeybee population is an attractive sustainability measure for the production of Promunel.
 
“In a world where wild bees are disappearing at alarming rates, it seems as if beekeeping may be their only hope of survival. B Natural engages their beekeeper suppliers to go the extra mile to defend and protect their colonies – never outsourcing and providing healthy environments free of pesticides and other contaminants. We call it a ‘contract with the bees and hope for a win-win situation,” he said.