Propolis, also known as bee resin or bee glue, is a fascinating natural substance produced by honeybees. To make it, the bees collect resinous components from tree buds, bark and other plant parts and mix them with their own secretions and wax. This produces a sticky, aromatic mass that is used in many ways in the hive. The name propolis comes from Greek and is made up of the words "pro" for "in front of" and "polis" for "city" – an allusion to its use at the entrance to the hive.
A special feature of propolis is its important function within the bee colony. The bees use the resinous material to seal small cracks and gaps in the hive and to shape its interior. Foreign bodies that cannot be removed from the hive can also be coated with propolis. Thanks to its natural properties, the substance helps to protect the immediate environment of the bee colony. Propolis is thus an impressive example of how honeybees use plant raw materials for their own needs.
The diverse composition of propolis is particularly interesting. It depends heavily on which plants are available to the bees in their surroundings. Season, geographical origin and climate also influence this natural mixture of substances. Its characteristic ingredients include various flavonoids, phenolic acids and aromatic compounds. This is why propolis from different regions can vary considerably in colour, smell and composition – from yellowish-brown to dark brown or reddish.
The known plant substances in propolis include galangin, a flavonoid from the flavonol group. Other compounds such as chrysin, pinocembrin and pinobanksin may also be present. Galangin is often used as a characteristic ingredient for standardising propolis extracts. The content of a selected plant substance can thus be determined more precisely, regardless of natural variations.
Fairvital Propolis Extract contains 1000 mg of bee resin extract per tablet and is standardised to 3 % galangin. This is equivalent to 30 mg of galangin per tablet. The raw material used comes from Europe, Asia and South America and thus brings together the natural diversity of different plant regions in a concentrated bee product.