Use of propolis in foods and its protective properties

Abstract

Propolis is a natural mixture of saliva, enzymes and plant secretions which collected by bees from various plants and used for protection of hives against external fac-tors. Biological activities and chemical composition of propolis may vary accor-ding to the plant sources, location and time, and it contains phenolic compo-unds, aromatic acids, essen-tial oils, minerals and vita-mins. Propolis has been used in traditional medicine for various therapeutic pur-poses, and it has a potential as a natural preservative in foods. Propolis may have various protective effects such as reducing microbial growth and oxidation, pre-venting fungus, rotting and weight loss, maintaining product stability and exten-ding shelf life in meat, po-ultry, fish, dairy, vegetables, fruits and fruit juices during storage. However, propolis's unique odor and taste may alter the sensory quality of foods and that may effect its use in the food industry ne-gatively.