Nanocarriers as drug delivery systems for propolis: A therapeutic approach

Abstract Propolis is a resinous material produced by bees (Apis mellifera) from different botanical sources. It has a wide variety of biological activities attributed to its chemical constituents, which are mainly phenolic acids and polyphenols such as flavonoids. These components usually have low water solubility and poor bioavailability. Polymeric, lipid and inorganic nanocarriers had been mainly used as drug delivery systems to overcome the physiological limitations of propolis chemical constituents. This review covers recent research on different types of nanocarrier agents used to explore the delivery and therapeutic improvement of propolis extracts, as well as their physicochemical characterization and biological activities. Future studies should focus on understanding the chemical composition of propolis in association with nanosystems and how affects its encapsulation. Additionally, in vivo evaluations to assess the relevance of propolis associated to nanocarriers as therapeutic options are needed.