Therapeutic Potential of Propolis in Ulcerative Colitis: A Review of Preclinical Evidence

Propolis is a resinous, aromatic substance collected by worker bees from various plant species. Evidence suggests that propolis is a promising candidate for the treatment of ulcerative colitis due to its antioxidant properties and ability to modulate immune responses and the gut microbiota. This review aimed to analyze studies on the efficacy of propolis and its main active compounds in ulcerative colitis, highlighting mechanisms of action, safety and limitations. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases using the keywords "propolis" AND "colitis". Original articles presenting in vivo analyses, published in English up to June 2025, were included. Propolis extracts improved clinical and histopathological parameters, particularly by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, inflammatory cell infiltration, and restoring epithelial barrier integrity. These effects mainly involve modulation of inflammatory signaling pathways, particularly suppression of NF-κB activation, resulting in reduced expression of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and iNOS. Propolis also reduced TLR4 expression, potentially contributing to the control of the exacerbated immune response characteristic of ulcerative colitis. These findings support the potential of propolis as an adjuvant agent in disease management; however, its clinical efficacy in humans remains to be validated in well-controlled and standardized studies.