Propolis in Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders: Mechanistic and Clinical Insights-A Scoping Review

Obesity and related metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, represent major global health challenges. Growing interest in complementary strategies has brought propolis, a resinous bee-derived product rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, into focus. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize available in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence regarding the metabolic effects of whole propolis preparations and propolis-derived bioactive compounds in obesity-related contexts.

The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR framework and included experimental and human studies evaluating adipogenesis, lipid and glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related outcomes, and gut microbiota modulation.

Across preclinical models, propolis preparations have been associated with modulation of antioxidant defenses, attenuation of inflammatory signaling, regulation of adipogenic transcriptional programs, and alterations in gut microbiota composition and barrier integrity. Clinical evidence suggests modest improvements in selected metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers; however, effects on body weight and adiposity remain inconsistent. Interpretation is limited by heterogeneity in propolis type, extraction method, chemical standardization, dosing strategies, and study design.

Overall, current evidence indicates that propolis may influence obesity-related metabolic pathways, primarily at the level of biomarker modulation. Nevertheless, mechanistic causality and long-term clinical efficacy require confirmation through well-designed, adequately powered, and chemically standardized trials.