Treatment of propolis specimens from Central Italy to yield a product with a lower charge of allergenic species

Propolis is a beehive product that displays many noteworthy properties but that is responsible of allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Some esters of caffeic, salicylic and cinnamic acids are responsible of these reactions. We propose here a new process aimed at the preparation of propolis-based products with a low content of allergens. It is based on the treatment of propolis hydroethanolic solutions with a natural lipidic phase. It was tested using specimens from Central Italy and resulted quite efficient removing a high percentage of some allergenic esters. It is green, simple and economic and can be thus easily accepted by beekeepers.

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► A natural lipidic phase is used to treat propolis solutions in a new process.
► Treated propolis solutions display a low allergens charge.
► The process is very simple, green and readily transferable to beekeepers.