Could the ‘glue’ bees use to seal hives boost 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 anti-bacterial 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 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, chief executive 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,’ he said.
Mr Fearnley likens the combination of antibiotics and propolis to smart missiles reducing collateral damage.
He said: ‘Antibiotics are supposed to just kill the bad bacteria but they end up killing a lot of good bacteria – the innocent bystanders – as well.’
He added: ‘Antimicrobial resistance is a mounting crisis. Over-prescribing is what has really done the damage.’
Professor Anant Paradkar, director of Bradford University’s Centre for Pharmaceutical Engineering Science, said researchers relied on bees to produce the complex substance because it was virtually impossible to create in a lab.