WO1996032953A1

WO1996032953A1 - A propolis extract and a process for its preparation

Info

Publication number: WO1996032953A1
Application number: PCT/RU1996/000058
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ravil Galimovich Sazkhiev; Igor Nikolaevich Tokarev; Alexandr Jurievich Karev
Original assignee: Ravil Galimovich Sazkhiev; Igor Nikolaevich Tokarev; Alexandr Jurievich Karev
Priority date: 1995-04-21
Filing date: 1996-03-20
Publication date: 1996-10-24
Also published as: AU5128296A; RU2090089C1

Abstract

The present invention relates to propolis-based preparations and processes for preparing propolis extracts, may be used in medicine and pharmacology, in the perfume and cosmetics industry, food processing industry, agriculture, etc., and facilitates production of an alcohol-free propolis preparation which retains the useful properties of propolis in solution and increases the propolis concentration in solution. A propolis solution is an aqueous molecular-dispersed solution of propolis with mechanical impurities removed and contains, as a rule, from 1 to 30 w/w %, in particular 2 or 10 w/w % propolis. The extract is prepared by dissolving in water propolis with mechanical impurities removed while passing a current through the water and placing electrodes in a vessel of water to which mineral salts are added before dissolution.

Description

A PROPOLIS EXTRACT AND A PROCESS FOR ITS PREPARATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to propolis-based preparations and processes for preparing propolis extracts and may be used in medicine, pharmacology, perfumes- and-cosmetics industry, food processing industry, agriculture, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Propolis is a product of a vital activity of bees and possesses a high biological activity.

Propolis contains resins (a mixture of organic acids), balms, tannings, ethereal oils, phenolic acids, aromatic aldehydes, flavonoids, sol elements; also, there have been found tocopherol, ascorbic and nicotinic acids, riboflavine, thiamine; and some organic acids such as benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, and others.

Propolis has been used from old times in folk medicine as prophylactic and therapeutic agent. At present, it is known that propolis is injurious for some bacteria, in particular pyogenic bacteria (streptococci, staphylococci), is used in veterinary science and in the treatment of nipple cracks in feeding mothers; it promotes various functions of many defense mechanisms of a human body. Under the influence of propolis, phagocytosis becomes more pronounced, a level of a particular defensive protein (properdin) in serum is increased, a production of specific anti-bodies to pathogenic microorganisms and toxins is intensified. Propolis contributes to the strengthening of enamel; a majority of microorganisms does not become resistant thereto; propolis is a nonspecific immunoirritant and improves activity of antibodies.

It has been pointed out previously that the main propolis components are hydrophobic or scarcely soluble in water, that is why typically propolis has been used as a propolis extract in liquid (or an alcoholic tincture of propolis) prepared by extracting intact propolis with a water-soluble organic solvent such as ethanol (OB Patent No. 2255017, 1992).

There have been known an alcoholic propolis-extract and a process for preparing thereof, comprising the steps of extracting propolis from mechanical impurities and subjecting thereof to the action of a solvent such as ethyl alcohol or an aqueous alcoholic solution. The above alcoholic action is carried out for a long time in a vessel protected from light (Kivalkina V. P. and Barskova A. A., "Dosage Forms of Propolis", in J. Apiculture 11, p. 36, Moscow, 1991).

The drawbacks of an alcoholic propolis-extract reside in a limited application of an extract obtained, which is caused by the use of alcohol in one or another concentration possessing specific properties which restrict its application, particularly in the treatment of gastric ulcer. Furthermore, an alcoholic solution is unacceptable in the treatment of children and alcohol-sensitive persons. An alcoholic propolis-solution is incompatible with aqueous extracts and aqueous solutions (it is precipitated out of solution). Moreover, propolis losses a vast number of positive properties when treated as above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in order to solve the above problems included in the prior arts, and an object of this invention is to provide an alcohol-free propolis preparation, to preserve positive properties of propolis in solution and to increase the propolis concentration in solution.

The above object is achieved by the fact that a propolis extract consists of propolis extracted from mechanical impurities and dissolved in water. In doing this, a propolis extract may have the pH > 7 with the content of waxy compounds of not more than 1 % by weight of propolis to be dissolved.

In special cases, however, a propolis extract contains from 1 to 30 w w %, preferably from 2 to 10 w w %, more preferably 2 or 10 w/w % propolis. The propolis content below 1 w/w % docs not lead to the production of a required therapeutical effect, while that above 30 w/w % is not to the purpose, since the solution acquires unwanted physical properties.

A two-percent solution possesses properties permitting its use as a beverage, whereas a propolis solution having more than 2 w/w %, for example 10 w/w %, may be used in medical purposes.

A dry residue content in a two-percent propolis extract is in the range from 0.120 to 0.126 w/w %, while that of phenolic compounds is not less than 0.06 w/w %.

The above problem is also solved by the fact that to prepare a propolis extract, propolis extracted from mechanical impurities is dissolved in water by conducting electric current therethrough, that is to say by electrochemical dissolution method. The current is conducted through water by means of oppositely charged electrodes placed in water; in this case, propolis may be disposed in a cathodic zone separated from an anodic zone with a filter baffle plate.

To increase a propolis dissolution efficiency, prior to dissolving, mineral salts may be added to water.

To prepare solution of a predetermined concentration, the amount of propolis is chosen to be not less than 1 w/w % of the quantity of water, depending on solubility of propolis to be used.

A two-percent propolis extract may be prepared both by a direct electrochemical dissolution of propolis in water, and by adding a corresponding amount of water to a 1 percent extract.

To lower a dry residue content, an aqueous propolis extract is subjected to filtering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A two-percent propolis extract is used as a beverage made of propolis. The beverage is a cloudy gray-yellowish liquid with a minor residue content. It has a bitterish, slightly burning taste and a spicy gummy odor.

The beverage possesses pronounced prophylactic and therapeutic effects based on propolis properties.

It is possible to quantitavely determine a composition of ingredients in the propolis extract obtained; for example, a dry residue content is determined by evaporating and weighing. The content of a sum of phenolic compounds is determined according to a solution optical density to be determined by the method of spectrophotometric measurements.

An aqueous propolis extract has passed through clinical tests and been appraised positively. A ten-percent propolis extract has passed through acute toxicity tests. Based on the tests performed, it was established that a product under test possessed no toxic effect.

The preparation of an aqueous propolis extract is carried out as follows. Propolis is extracted from mechanical impurities, then cooled and ground. Electrodes are placed in a vessel with water to which mineral salts are added. A material of electrodes is selected depending on required characteristics both of a propolis extract, and of products of a precipitate thereof, that is to say, depending on a sphere of using these products. For example, stainless steel electrodes are used for this purpose. The cathode with propolis attached thereto is separated from the anodic zone. Voltage is applied to the electrodes followed by dissolution carried out for 10 - 15 minutes. After the dissolution has been completed, current supply is terminated. Thereupon an aqueous propolis extract is filtered.

Characteristics of the aqueous propolis extract depend upon a material of electrodes.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

An aqueous propolis extract obtained by the method of electrochemical dissolution may be used as an agent for treating mucosa in inflammatory processes of various rhinopharynx etiology, for the application onto damaged surfaces, in gastric and duodenal ulcers, erosive gynecologic injuries, as a component in treatment -and- cosmetic creams, shampoos, tooth pastes, soaps, as well as when curing different foodstuffs.

As studies have showed, the extract may be used in medicine without producing side effects, including for internal use.

An aqueous propolis extract prepared in accordance with the present process may be used in agriculture for cultivating plants by the hydroponic method, in food processing industry, perfumes-and-cosmetics industry.

Precipitation products may be employed in wood processing.

Based on phenolic structurally related chelating compounds and a group of flavonoids, it is possible to determine authenticity of a given product. For this purpose, lead acetate solution is added to an aqueous propolis extract. Authenticity is determined by the emergence of a yellow precipitate gradually descending to the bottom in the form of polyphenols. Either an alcoholic iron oxy-chloride solution is added to this aqueous propolis extract. In this case, authenticity is determined by the emergence of coloring from a yellow-green to a brown-green color (a phenolic hydroxy group) and precipitation of the same color.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A propolis extract containing a solvent and propolis extracted from mechanical impurities which form a molecular - dispersed solution, characterized in that water is used as the solvent.

2. A propolis extract according to claim 1, characterized in that the pH > 7.

3. A propolis extract according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises waxy compounds in the amount of not more than 1 w w % of propolis to be dissolved.

4. A propolis extract according to claim 1 , characterized in that the propolis content in the solution is in the range of from 1 w/w % to 30 w/w %.

5. A propolis extract according to claim 1, characterized in that the propolis content in the solution is in the range of from 2 wΛv % to 10 w/w %.

6. A propolis extract according to claim 5, characterized in that the propolis content in the solution is 10 w/w %.

7. A propolis extract according to claim 5, characterized in that the propolis content in the solution is 2 w w %.

8. A propolis extract according to claim 7, characterized in that a dry residue content in the solution is in the range of from 0.12 to 0.126 w/w %, the content of phenolic compounds in the solution is not less than 0.06 w/w % when the propolis content in the solution is 2 w w %.

9. A process for preparing a propolis extract which comprises extracting propolis from mechanical impurities and subjecting thereof to the action of a solvent, characterized in that water is used as a solvent through which electric current is passed in the process of dissolution.

10. A process for preparing a propolis extract according to claim 9, characterized in that passing the electric current through water is carried out by oppositely charged electrodes placed in said water.

11. A process for preparing a propolis extract according to claim 10, characterized in that propolis is disposed in a cathodic zone separated from an anodic zone with a filter baffle plate.

12. A process for preparing a propolis extract according to claim 9, characterized in that mineral salts are added to water prior to dissolution.

13. A process for preparing a propolis extract according to claim 9, characterized in that propolis extracted from impurities is subjected to dissolution in water in the amount of not less than 1 w/w % of the amount of water.

14. A process for preparing a propolis extract according to claim 13, characterized in that propolis extracted from impurities is subjected to dissolution in water in the amount of not less than 10 w/w % of the amount of water.

15. A process for preparing a propolis extract according to claim 11 , characterized in that a ten-percent propolis extract so obtained is further dissolved with water until a less concentrated extract is prepared.

16. A process for preparing a propolis extract according to claim 13, characterized in that propolis extracted from impurities is subjected to dissolution in water in the amount of not less than 2 w/w % of the amount of water.