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The effect of bee propolis on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a pilot study
Nachum Samet1, Caroline Laurent, Srinivas M Susarla
1Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Nachum_Samet@hsdm.harvard.edu
Clinical Oral Investigations
|February 8, 2007
Summary
This pilot study found that propolis supplements significantly reduced the frequency of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) outbreaks. Patients taking propolis also reported an improved quality of life, suggesting its therapeutic potential for mouth ulcers.
Area of Science:
- Oral Medicine
- Natural Products Research
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a prevalent, painful oral condition with unknown causes.
- Current treatments for RAS focus on symptom management and may have significant side effects.
- There is a need for effective and safe interventions to reduce RAS outbreak frequency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of propolis in reducing the recurrence of RAS outbreaks.
- To assess the impact of propolis supplementation on the quality of life for RAS patients.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.
- Participants received either 500 mg of propolis or a placebo daily.
- Ulcer frequency was self-reported and monitored biweekly over the study period.
Main Results:
- The propolis group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in RAS outbreak frequency (p = 0.04).
- Patients supplemented with propolis reported a significant improvement in their quality of life (p = 0.03).
Conclusions:
- Propolis shows promise as an effective natural agent for decreasing the recurrence of aphthous ulcers.
- Further large-scale clinical trials are warranted to confirm these findings and establish propolis as a viable treatment for RAS.
