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Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Extraction and Analysis of Taiwanese Green Propolis
Published on: January 7, 2019
Bi-lateral eosinophilic ulcers in an infant treated with propolis
A Kiderman1, R Torten, A L Furst
1Division of Family Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Insights
Propolis ointment rapidly resolved chronic eosinophilic mouth ulcers in an infant. This natural bee product showed significant therapeutic potential for oral ulceration, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Natural Products Research
- Pediatric Dermatology
Background:
- Propolis, a bee-derived substance rich in amino acids, flavonoids, terpenes, and cinnamic acid, has traditional uses for topical inflammatory conditions.
- Historically, propolis has been employed in folk medicine for treating various ulcerative lesions.
Observation:
- A 13-month-old female infant presented with bilateral eosinophilic ulcers of the mouth, the youngest reported case.
- Despite a 4-month course of various treatments, the oral ulcers remained unresponsive.
Findings:
- Local application of a lanolin-based propolis ointment led to rapid resolution of the ulcers within 3 weeks.
- The treated eosinophilic ulcers did not recur following the propolis ointment intervention.
Implications:
- The case suggests propolis may be a viable treatment for chronic eosinophilic ulcers in children.
- Further research into propolis for oral ulceration and other mucosal lesions is warranted due to its therapeutic potential.
Background:
Propolis is a natural substance, produced by the honey bee, containing amino acids, flavanoids, terpenes and cinnamic acid. It has long been used in folk-medicine for topical inflammatory conditions including ulcerative lesions of different aetiologies.
Methods:
A 13-month-old female infant developed bilateral eosinophilic ulcers of the mouth, becoming the youngest patient in the literature so far reported to have done so. Following a protracted 4-month course, during which time the lesions remained unchanged despite various treatments, the ulcers were treated locally with a lanolin-based propolis ointment.
Results:
Application of the propolis ointment was associated with the rapid resolution of the ulcers within 3 weeks and they did not subsequently recur.
Conclusions:
Although inevitably circumstantial, the abrupt healing of this child's chronic eosinophilic ulcers suggests that, in the light of its previously known therapeutic associations, propolis deserves further evaluation in the treatment of this condition, and perhaps in other forms of oral ulceration as well.
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