The Anti-Acne Potential of Stingless Bee Propolis: A Review
Keywords:
Acne vulgaris, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, propolis, stingless beeAbstract
Acne vulgaris is a prevalent dermatological condition, primarily affecting adolescents, which poses significant physical and psychological burdens. Recent research has highlighted the therapeutic potential of natural substances, such as propolis derived from stingless bees, in addressing acne-related concerns. Propolis has garnered attention due to its broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, including its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These attributes suggest its potential efficacy as a treatment option for acne. This narrative review was conducted through a comprehensive search of relevant scientific databases to evaluate the potential of stingless bee propolis as a natural therapeutic agent for acne vulgaris. In particular, it focuses on the bioactive compounds responsible for its pharmacological effects, while also considering potential adverse reactions, such as allergic responses. Stingless bee propolis exhibits significant antibacterial activity, particularly against Cutibacterium acnes, the primary bacterium implicated in acne pathogenesis. Its anti-inflammatory properties further mitigate the inflammatory processes that contribute to acne lesion development, while its antioxidant activity helps counteract oxidative stress, which is a known exacerbating factor in acne. The bioactive compounds that underpin these effects include terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, all of which have been well-documented for their therapeutic properties in dermatological applications. Despite these promising attributes, it is important to acknowledge that stingless bee propolis may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Therefore, while it holds promise as a natural alternative for acne treatment, rigorous clinical trials are necessary to fully establish its efficacy, safety, and tolerability in broader populations. In summary, stingless bee propolis presents a compelling natural therapeutic option for acne vulgaris due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. However, its potential to induce allergic reactions warrants caution. Further clinical research is essential to confirm its utility and safety for widespread use in dermatological applications, particularly in the treatment of acne.References
[1] Zhu Z, Zhong X, Luo Z, Liu M, Zhang H, Zheng H, et al. Global, regional and national burdens of acne vulgaris in adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years from 1990 to 2021: a trend analysis. British Journal of Dermatology. 2025;192(2):228-37 https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljae352.
[2] Stamu‐O'Brien C, Jafferany M, Carniciu S, Abdelmaksoud A. Psychodermatology of acne: psychological aspects and effects of acne vulgaris. Journal of cosmetic dermatology. 2021;20(4):1080-3 https://doi.org/10.111/jocd.13765.
[3] Shields A, Nock MR, Ly S, Manjaly P, Mostaghimi A, Barbieri JS. Evaluation of stigma toward individuals with acne. JAMA dermatology. 2024;160(1):93-8 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.4487.
[4] Kontzias C, Zaino M, Feldman SR. Tretinoin 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 3% cream for the treatment of facial acne vulgaris. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2023;57(9):1088-93 https://doi.org/10.177/10600280221147338.
[5] Karadag A, Aslan Kayıran M, Wu CY, Chen W, Parish L. Antibiotic resistance in acne: changes, consequences and concerns. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2021;35(1):73-8 https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.16686.
[6] Tan NKW, Tang A, MacAlevey NCYL, Tan BKJ, Oon HH. Risk of suicide and psychiatric disorders among isotretinoin users: a meta-analysis. JAMA dermatology. 2024;160(1):54-62 doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2023.4579.
[7] Cruz S, Vecerek N, Elbuluk N. Targeting inflammation in acne: current treatments and future prospects. American journal of clinical dermatology. 2023;24(5):681-94 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-023-00789-1.
[8] Hrncir M, Maia-Silva C, da Silva Teixeira-Souza VH, Imperatriz-Fonseca VL. Stingless bees and their adaptations to extreme environments. Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 2019;205(3):415-26 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-019-1327-3.
[9] Gomes KO, Messias da Silva LCF, Dos Santos RD, Prado BA, da Silva Montes P, Silva Rodrigues LF, et al. Chemical characterization and antibacterial activities of Brazilian propolis extracts from Apis mellifera bees and stingless bees (Meliponini). Plos one. 2024;19(7):e0307289 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.
[10] Zulhendri F, Perera CO, Chandrasekaran K, Ghosh A, Tandean S, Abdulah R, et al. Propolis of stingless bees for the development of novel functional food and nutraceutical ingredients: A systematic scoping review of the experimental evidence. Journal of Functional Foods. 2022;88:104902 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2021.
[11] Ismail MM, Ismail WIW, editors. Development of stingless beekeeping projects in Malaysia. E3S web of conferences; 2018: EDP Sciences.
[12] BERNAMA. MOA launches National Kelulut Honey Industry Development Plan for 2020–2030. BERNAMA. 2019: https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=1795035.
[13] Santer M, Burden-Teh E, Ravenscroft J. Managing acne vulgaris: an update. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin. 2024;62(1):6-10 https://doi.org/.1136/dtb.2023.000051.
[14] Rozman AS, Hashim N, Maringgal B, Abdan K. A comprehensive review of stingless bee products: Phytochemical composition and beneficial properties of honey, propolis, and pollen. Applied Sciences. 2022;12(13):6370 https://doi.org/10.3390/app12136370.
[15] Arung ET, Kusuma IW, Paramita S, Amen Y, Kim Y-U, Naibaho NM, et al. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-acne activities of stingless bee (Tetragonula biroi) propolis. Fitoterapia. 2023;164:105375 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2022.
[16] Wattanuruk D, Matintarangson N. Antioxidant and Anti-acne Activities of Stingless Bee Honey and Propolis Extract. Journal of Food Health and Bioenvironmental Science. 2024;17(1).
[17] Rusman R, Arung E, editors. Phytochemical and Bioactivity of Propolis Extracts Produced by Stingless Bee Heterotrigona itama from Two Cultivation Locations. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science; 2023: IOP Publishing.
[18] Barboza JR, Pereira FAN, Fernandes RA, Vasconcelos CC, Cartágenes MdSdS, Oliveira Lopes AJ, et al. Cytotoxicity and Pro-Apoptotic, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Geopropolis Produced by the Stingless Bee Melipona fasciculata Smith. Biology. 2020;9(9):292 https://doi.org/10.3390/biology9090292.
[19] Mohammadi M. Cutibacterium acnes bacteriophage therapy: exploring a new frontier in acne vulgaris treatment. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2025;317(1):1-12 https://doi.org/0.1007/s00403-024-3585-x.
[20] Vadillo-Rodríguez V, Cavagnola MA, Pérez-Giraldo C, Fernández-Calderón MC. A physico-chemical study of the interaction of ethanolic extracts of propolis with bacterial cells. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 2021;200:111571 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.
[21] Donadio G, Mensitieri F, Santoro V, Parisi V, Bellone ML, De Tommasi N, et al. Interactions with microbial proteins driving the antibacterial activity of flavonoids. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(5):660 https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13050660.
[22] Huang L, Yang S, Yu X, Fang F, Zhu L, Wang L, et al. Association of different cell types and inflammation in early acne vulgaris. Frontiers in Immunology. 2024;15:1275269 https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.
[23] Xu W, Lu H, Yuan Y, Deng Z, Zheng L, Li H. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids from propolis via Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. Foods. 2022;11(16):2439 https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11162439.
[24] Ferreira JC, Reis MB, Coelho GD, Gastaldello GH, Peti APF, Rodrigues DM, et al. Baccharin and p-coumaric acid from green propolis mitigate inflammation by modulating the production of cytokines and eicosanoids. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 2021;278:114255 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.
[25] Almeida-Junior S, de Oliveira KRP, Marques LP, Martins JG, Ubeda H, Santos MFC, et al. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Baccharin from Brazilian green propolis. Fitoterapia. 2024;175:105975 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2024.
[26] Zhang W, Cai Y, Chen X, Ji T, Sun L. Optimized extraction based on the terpenoids of Heterotrigona itama propolis and their antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory activities. Journal of Food Biochemistry. 2020;44(8):e13296 https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.
[27] Parichatikanond W, Mangmool S, Chewchinda S, Hirunpanich V, Vongsak B. Anti-inflammatory activity of propolis extract from the stingless bee, Tetragonula pagdeni, in mangosteen orchard. The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2024;47(3):6 https://doi.org/10.56808/3027-7922.2832.
[28] Campos JF, Santos UPd, Rocha PdSd, Damião MJ, Balestieri JBP, Cardoso CAL, et al. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of propolis from the stingless bee Tetragonisca fiebrigi (Jatai). Evidence‐based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015;2015(1):296186 https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/.
[29] Santos HFd, Campos JF, Santos CMd, Balestieri JBP, Silva DB, Carollo CA, et al. Chemical profile and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and antimicrobial activities of geopropolis from the stingless bee Melipona orbignyi. International journal of molecular sciences. 2017;18(5):953 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18050953.
[30] Calimag KPD, Arbis CCH, Collantes TMA, Bariuan JV, Ang MJC, Cervancia CA, et al. Attenuation of carrageenan-induced hind paw edema and plasma TNF-α level by Philippine stingless bee (Tetragonula biroi Friese) propolis. Experimental Animals. 2021;70(2):185-93 https://doi.org/10.1538/expanim.20-0118.
[31] Popa GL, Mitran CI, Mitran MI, Tampa M, Matei C, Popa MI, et al. Markers of oxidative stress in patients with acne: A literature review. Life. 2023;13(7):1433 https://doi.org/10.3390/life13071433.
[32] Michalak M. Plant-derived antioxidants: Significance in skin health and the ageing process. International journal of molecular sciences. 2022;23(2):585 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23020585.
[33] Tolay MM, Sacchetto J, Massad WA, Airaghi FL, González M, Natera JE. Yungas propolis in the scavenging of vitamin B2-photogenerated ROS. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry. 2024;452:115611 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2024.
[34] Asem N, Abdul Gapar NA, Abd Hapit NH, Omar EA. Correlation between total phenolic and flavonoid contents with antioxidant activity of Malaysian stingless bee propolis extract. Journal of Apicultural Research. 2020;59(4):437-42 https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2019.1684050.
[35] Kasote DM, Pawar MV, Gundu SS, Bhatia R, Nandre VS, Jagtap SD, et al. Chemical profiling, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of Indian stingless bees propolis samples. Journal of Apicultural Research. 2019;58(4):617-25 https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2019.1584960.
[36] Bae IA, Ha JW, Choi JY, Boo YC. Antioxidant effects of Korean propolis in HaCaT keratinocytes exposed to particulate matter 10. Antioxidants. 2022;11(4):781 https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11040781
[37] Syed Salleh SNA, Mohd Hanapiah NA, Ahmad H, Wan Johari WL, Osman NH, Mamat MR. Determination of total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity and GC-MS analysis of Malaysian stingless bee propolis water extracts. Scientifica. 2021;2021 https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/3789351.
[38] Abdullah NA, Zullkiflee N, Zaini SNZ, Taha H, Hashim F, Usman A. Phytochemicals, mineral contents, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activities of propolis produced by Brunei stingless bees Geniotrigona thoracica, Heterotrigona itama, and Tetrigona binghami. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2020;27(11):2902-11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.09.014.
[39] Pazin WM, Monaco LdM, Egea Soares AE, Miguel FG, Berretta AA, Ito AS. Antioxidant activities of three stingless bee propolis and green propolis types. Journal of Apicultural Research. 2017;56(1):40-9 https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2016.1263496.
[40] Borges MG, Lima L, Veras AC, Ferreira R, Alves D, Medeiros I, et al. Cytotoxicity and Biological Activities of Geopopolis Extract from the Stingless Bee (Melipona scutellaris) in Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Chemistry & Biodiversity. 2024:e202301982 https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.
[41] Dewi JK, Toruan VML, Paramita S, Arung ET. A Dermatological Safety Test of a Face Serum Formulation Derived from Honey and Propolis of Stingless Bee from East Kalimantan. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research. 2024;5(3):748-54 https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.05.03.01.
[42] Nyman G, Wagner SO, Prystupa-Chalkidis K, Ryberg K, Hagvall L. Contact allergy in western Sweden to propolis of four different origins. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 2020;100(16):1-5 https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3615.
[43] Nyman GS, Giménez-Arnau AM, Grigaitienė J, Malinauskiene L, Paulsen E, Hagvall L. Patch testing with propolis of different geographical origins in a baseline series. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 2021;101(11):1-5 https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v101.423.
[44] Kwong HL, Lim SPR. Prevalence of propolis allergy in Singapore. JAAD international. 2020;1(1):39-41 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdin.2020.04.001.
[45] Liew KY, Kamise NI, Ong HM, Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Tan JW, et al. Anti-allergic properties of propolis: Evidence from preclinical and clinical studies. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022;12:785371 https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.
[46] Salleh SNAS, Hanapiah NAM, Johari WLW, Ahmad H, Osman NH. Analysis of bioactive compounds and chemical composition of Malaysian stingless bee propolis water extracts. Saudi journal of biological sciences. 2021;28(12):6705-10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.07.049.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (JBCS)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JBCS Publication Ethics
JBCS is committed to ensure the publication process follows specific academic ethics. Hence, Authors, Reviewers and Editors are required to conform to standards of ethical guidelines.
Authors
Authors should discuss objectively the significance of research work, technical detail and relevant references to enable others to replicate the experiments. JBCS do not accept fraudulent or inaccurate statements that may constitute towards unethical conduct.
Authors should ensure the originality of their works. In cases where the work and/or words of others have been used, appropriate acknowledgements should be made. JBCS do not accept plagiarism in all forms that constitute towards unethical publishing of an article.
This includes simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal. Corresponding author is responsible for the full consensus of all co-authors in approving the final version of the paper and its submission for publication.
Reviewers
Reviewers of JBCS treat manuscripts received for review as confidential documents. Therefore, Reviewers must ensure the confidentiality and should not use privileged information and/or ideas obtained through peer review for personal advantage.
Reviews should be conducted based on academic merit and observations should be formulated clearly with supporting arguments. In cases where selected Reviewer feels unqualified to review a manuscript, Reviewer should notify the editor and excuse himself from the review process in TWO (2) weeks time from the review offer is made.
In any reasonable circumstances, Reviewers should not consider to evaluate manuscripts if they have conflicts of interest (i.e: competitive, collaborative and/or other connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions affiliated to the papers).
Editors
Editors should evaluate manuscripts exclusively based on their academic merit. JBCS strictly do not allow editors to use unpublished information of authors without the written consent of the author. Editors are required to take appropriate responsive actions if ethical complaints have been presented concerning a submitted manuscript or published paper.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences requires authors to declare all competing interests in relation to their work. All submitted manuscripts must include a ‘competing interests section at the end of the manuscript listing all competing interests (financial and non-financial). Where authors have no competing interests, the statement should read ,The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Editors may ask for further information relating to competing interests.
Editors and reviewers are also required to declare any competing interests and will be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists. Competing interests may be financial or non-financial. A competing interest exists when the authors interpretation of data or presentation of information may be influenced by their personal or financial relationship with other people or organizations. Authors should disclose any financial competing interests but also any non-financial competing interests that may cause them embarrassment if they were to become public after the publication of the article.
HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS
All research must have been carried out within an appropriate ethical framework. If there is suspicion that work has not taken place within an appropriate ethical framework, Editors will follow the Misconduct policy and may reject the manuscript, and/or contact the author(s) institution or ethics committee. On rare occasions, if the Editor has serious concerns about the ethics of a study, the manuscript may be rejected on ethical grounds, even if approval from an ethics committee has been obtained.
Research involving human subjects, human material, or human data, must have been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and must have been approved by an appropriate ethics committee. A statement detailing this, including the name of the ethics committee and the reference number where appropriate, must appear in all manuscripts reporting such research. Further information and documentation to support this should be made available to Editors on request.
Experimental research on vertebrates or any regulated invertebrates must comply with institutional, national, or international guidelines, and where available should have been approved by an appropriate ethics committee. The Basel Declaration outlines fundamental principles to adhere to when conducting research in animals and the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS) has also published ethical guidelines.
A statement detailing compliance with relevant guidelines (e.g. the revised Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in the UK and Directive 2010/63/EU in Europe) and/or ethical approval (including the name of the ethics committee and the reference number where appropriate) must be included in the manuscript. The Editor will take account of animal welfare issues and reserves the right to reject a manuscript, especially if the research involves protocols that are inconsistent with commonly accepted norms of animal research. In rare cases, Editors may contact the ethics committee for further information.
INFORMED CONSENT
For all research involving human subjects, informed consent to participate in the study should be obtained from participants (or their parent or guardian in the case of children under 16) and a statement to this effect should appear in the manuscript, this includes to all manuscripts that include details, images, or videos relating to individual participants.
DATA SHARING POLICY
JBCS strongly encourages that all datasets on which the conclusions of the paper rely should be available to readers. We encourage authors to ensure that their datasets are either deposited in publicly available repositories (where available and appropriate) or presented in the main manuscript or additional supporting files, in machine-readable format (such as spreadsheets rather than PDFs) whenever possible
Authors who do not wish to share their data must state that data will not be shared, and give the reason.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
The JBCS retains the copyright of published manuscripts under the terms of the Copyright Transfer Agreement. However, the journal permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided permission to reuse, distribute and reproduce is obtained from the Journal's Editor and the original work is properly cited.
While the advice and information in this journal are believed to be true and accurate on the date of its going to press, neither the authors, the editors, nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein.
Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (JBCS)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
