Could ‘bee glue’ boost the power of antibiotics?
A ‘GLUE’ that bees use to seal their hives and fight infection could hold the key to boosting the waning power of antibiotics, according to a pioneering study.
‘Bee glue’, or propolis, is a biscuity-brown, sticky substance that honey bees produce when building their hives. It is made when they mix saliva with their wax and tree sap. It is used to plug holes and contains anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that protect the hive.
Researchers now believe that propolis could also help humans by countering drug-resistant bacteria and enhancing the power of antibiotics. A team at the University of Bradford in northern England, in partnership with natural remedy company Nature’s Laboratory, has been awarded a two-year UK Research and Innovation grant of £180,000 to explore the power of propolis.
James Fearnley, CEO of Nature’s Laboratory, said: ‘Propolis holds so much potential – not as a magic bullet but as something that can boost our immune system and help treat disease.’
His firm’s most dramatic discovery came just over a year ago when they realised propolis could ‘reboot’ antibiotics.
‘We found that if you combine propolis with antibiotics that have effectively stopped working, such as penicillium, they start working again,’ Mr Fearnley said.