Propolis Plus Extract 59ml - Now Foods

Propolis Plus Extract 59ml - Now Foods

Now Foods' Propolis Plus Extract Liquid contains bee propolis collected from hives, which naturally contains flavonoids. Bees collect propolis from the resin of specific selected trees and use it to line the hive. This substance is believed to be responsible for the sterile and healthy state of the bee colony.

The immune system plays an essential role in maintaining health and vitality. It helps protect the body from diseases and infections, playing a fundamental role in longevity and the overall aging process. A weakened immune system makes the body more susceptible to illness.

Now Foods' Propolis Plus Extract Liquid is a complex based on extracts of Propolis, Forsythia, Licorice, Slippery Elm, Clove, Goldenseal, Myrrh, and Echinacea, specifically developed to maintain a healthy immune system.

Propolis is a resinous mixture produced by bees, combining their saliva and wax with exudates collected from trees and plants. Bees use this resin to provide structure, seal gaps in the hive, and also as a disinfectant agent. Propolis is directly responsible for ensuring the asepsis (disinfection) of the hives, as it has potent antimicrobial action. Due to the high number of active ingredients (such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, and essential oils), propolis extract is used for its therapeutic effect, mainly for its stimulating action on the immune system, which is responsible for the body's defense. Its properties also include antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer actions. Propolis is rich in active flavonoids that help promote cellular regeneration and support the immune system.

Licorice is a wild plant, now widely cultivated due to the value of its root. Licorice root contains saponins (up to 6% glycyrrhizin), flavonoids, steroids, coumarins, and asparagine.

Glycyrrhizic acid exhibits anti-inflammatory, expectorant, mucosal protective, and adrenal-stimulating properties, as well as acting as a mild laxative. It has also demonstrated immunostimulatory activity by inducing an increase in the number of white blood cells, which are essential in the fight against invasive organisms that cause various diseases and infections.

For this reason, it is also used as an adjunct with antiviral and antibiotic action. It can weaken viral activity by inhibiting expression and replication, and improve host cell activities by blocking IkB degradation, activating T-lymphocyte proliferation, and suppressing host cell apoptosis. It also has an antioxidant action due to the presence of various flavonoids, especially chalcones, which play an important role in treating bacterial infection by decreasing the expression of bacterial genes, inhibiting their growth, and reducing the production of bacterial toxins.

Slippery Elm bark has beneficial health properties and effects. It contains a mucilage consisting of polyuronic acids, tannins, steroids, hemicelluloses, potassium salts, calcium oxalates, sesquiterpene lactones, and resin. It has anti-inflammatory, emollient, astringent, and healing effects, helping to care for the immune system.

Clove contains an essential oil that is rich in eugenol, a compound that acts as a natural antioxidant. A study concluded that this component is more effective than Vitamin E (another potent antioxidant) in combating oxidative stress. The essential oil is responsible for antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-flu activities, and stimulates gastric secretions, effects that help keep the immune system strengthened. Clove also contains Vitamin C, a vitamin that acts as an antioxidant in the body and helps neutralize free radicals, which can cause oxidative stress.

Forsythia is a yellow-flowered tree originating from China. It is a plant rich in micronutrients such as rutin, caffeic acid, betulinic acid, isoforsythiaside, lignans, and flavonoids.

Isoforsythiaside, a phenylethanoid glycoside isolated from *Forsythia suspensa*, is a natural antioxidant and antibacterial compound that supports the immune system. Its potential action is essentially antipyretic.

Goldenseal has active components such as alkaloids like berberine, hydrastine, and canadine. It is widely used to combat inflammation and infection and has vasoconstrictor and hemostatic properties. Goldenseal roots (rather than the aerial parts) are commonly used in medicine and phytotherapy due to their high alkaloid content, which provides antimicrobial and antifungal action.

Myrrh has been used since ancient times as a perfume and incense for medicinal and sacred purposes. Its essential oil is extremely important in aromatherapy and is believed to relieve coughs, colds, digestive discomfort, and boost the immune system. It is an exudate extracted from the tree or shrub *Commiphora myrrha*, which constitutes a gum-oleoresin. Furanosesquiterpenes predominate in the resin; the gum contains a polyuronide that produces galactose, arabinose, and glucose; and the volatile part contains dipentene, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, and other monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Its action is anti-inflammatory, healing, antibacterial, and astringent.

In addition to fighting inflammation, myrrh also appears to assist the body in reducing oxidative stress, supporting the immune system.

Echinacea is a plant with immunostimulatory action that improves the immune response through non-specific stimulation of the immune system by activating phagocytosis (one of the first mechanisms of response to infection). By increasing levels of leukocytes or white blood cells (responsible for our body's defense), it activates macrophages, which eliminate microorganisms and dead cells. Consequently, it increases the secretion of interleukin, interferon (which inhibits the multiplication of fungi and bacteria and stimulates the defense activity of other cells), and cytokines (which mediate and regulate the inflammatory and immune response), and activates the production of B-lymphocytes (which produce antibodies against antigens).

Echinacea not only improves the immune system's response but also decreases inflammatory mediators (anti-inflammatory action).

The fact that it is a liquid extract has several advantages. The root is diluted in alcohol, which allows the formula to be quickly and easily absorbed by the body. The moment the extract comes into contact with the tongue, it is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream, beginning its action right away.

59ml glass dropper bottle