Honey bees collect plant-based products to protect and nourish their hive. Propolis is a flavonoid-rich product containing over 300 compounds, 19 different flavonoids, plus numerous phenolic acids and etheric oils. Honey also possesses phenolic compounds identifying their sources, i.e. monofloral honeys, such as Buckwheat, Clover, Manuka - all possessing certain strengths based on their origins...
Flavonoids are ubiquitous in photosynthesising
cells and are commonly found in fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, stems, flowers,
tea, wine, propolis and honey.
Antimicrobial
activity of flavonoids
For centuries, preparations containing these
compounds as the principal physiologically active constituents have been used
to treat human diseases. Increasingly, this class of natural products is
becoming the subject of anti-infective research, and many groups have isolated
and identified the structures of flavonoids possessing antifungal, antiviral and
antibacterial activity. Moreover, several groups have demonstrated synergy
between active flavonoids as well as between flavonoids and existing
chemotherapeutics…
... The activity of
quercetin, for example, has been at least partially attributed to inhibition of
DNA gyrase. It has also been proposed that sophoraflavone G and
(−)-epigallocatechin gallate inhibit cytoplasmic membrane function, and that
licochalcones A and C inhibit energy metabolism. Other flavonoids whose
mechanisms of action have been investigated include robinetin, myricetin,
apigenin, rutin, galangin, 2,4,2′-trihydroxy-5′-methylchalcone and lonchocarpol
A. These compounds represent novel leads, and future studies may allow the
development of a pharmacologically acceptable antimicrobial agent or class of
agents.
