Title : Therapeutic potential of Brazilian Red Propolis in cancer: A short review on recent scientific evidence
Abstract:
Brazilian red propolis has gained prominence in the field of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine due to its promising therapeutic properties, arousing growing interest from both the international market and the Federal University of Alagoas, with regard to scientific and technological development that supports quality certification and promotes its export. The Union of Red Propolis Producers of the State of Alagoas, as the requesting entity, registered the geographical indication of red propolis in 2012 with the National Institute of Industrial Property, under number IG 201101. This study explores the contributions of red propolis to global public health, and by examining data from the International Agency of Research on Cancer published in 2022, its possible to observe 19,976,499 new incidence cases, with the five most prevalent types being: lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, stomach and liver cancers. The mortality rate reached 9,743,832 cases, with emphasis on lung, colorectal, liver, breast and stomach cancers. In light of these complex clinical challenges, such as cancer, its crucial to systematize the existing scientific knowledge on the subject. The objective of this review is to present and discuss recent scientific evidence on the effects of Brazilian red propolis in cancer treatment. A narrative literature review was conducted, with an exclusive search on the PubMed database using the descriptor “red propolis cancer”. The manual search was carried out in May 2025, considering publications between the years 2020 and 2025. Fourteen articles were identified, of which two were excluded for not addressing cancer or Brazilian propolis. Of the twelve included articles, all presented in vitro studies, two of which used nanoparticles, and one also conducted in vivo tests with mice. Two studies addressed lung cancer cells: one demonstrated significant therapeutic effects, while the other did not show relevant results. One article investigated head and neck cancer stem cells, showing a reduction in their proportion. Promising results were observed in studies involving breast cancer cells (3), ovarian (3), liver (1), prostate (1), and melanoma (1). One study also demonstrated inhibition of colon cancer cells using a combination of red, brown and green propolis. Some articles reported enhanced efficacy of chemotherapy treatments when combined with red propolis. Its bioactive compounds also demonstrated properties that contribute to health promotion and education, as well as disease prevention, by strengthening the immune system and exhibiting antifungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiplasmodial, antitumor, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. These effects indicate potential therapeutic applications in inflammatory, infectious and oncological diseases. The data reinforce the relevance of red propolis as a promising natural resource with potential to investigate possibilities in the treatment of various types of cancer. However, more controlled and randomized clinical trials in humans are still needed, along with deeper investigations into its mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications. This study contributes to the appreciation of Brazilian traditional medicine and its integration into innovative therapeutic strategies, applicable to different complex medical systems, for the benefit of global health.
