ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2022 69 ploy propolis as a "disinfection" material, which the Egyptians learned from. The first scientific paper on propolis, including its chemical characteristics and composition, was published in 1908. WHAT IS PROPOLIS? Propolis is a gelatinous yellow pale resin made by bees with the mixture of wax, pollen, plant exudates and an enzyme found in bee saliva, and it has antibacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antioxidant effects. Plant exudates, such as mucilages, gums, resins, and fluids, are acquired by bees and combined with wax, pollen, and 13-glicosidase enzymes present in their saliva, which hydrolyze flavonoids glycosides into flavonoid aglycones, resulting in propolis. The name propolis comes from the Greek words pro-, meaning for or in defence, and polis-, meaning city, as in defence of the city. Propolis is utilized by bees to seal their hives, function as a thermal insulator, and restrict the entry of external invaders as well as the multiplication of dangerous bacteria and fungi. WHAT IS PROPOLIS MADE OF? Propolis contains a variety of organic components, including 45 to 55 percent resins and vegetable gums (phenolic acids, esters and flavonoids), 8–35 percent wax (primarily beeswax), 5-10 percent aromatic and essential oils (viridiflorol, tricosane, pinene, and eudesmol), 5 percent fatty acids, 5 percent pollen, and 5 percent other organic compounds. Propolis is made up of a variety of biomolecules, including phenols, esters, and terpenes, as well as sugars, hydrocarbons, and mineral elements. In medicine, phenols are employed as antiseptics. Flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, curcuminoids, stilbenes, coumarins, and quinines are all phenolic chemicals found in plants. The antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, and anti-inflammatory properties of propolis is due to the presence of the above compounds. COLLECTION OF PROPOLIS Special collector traps are the most often used harvesting method that assures propolis extraction without contamination, are installed directly on frames and beneath the roof, or at the corners of a hive. Traps are nets made of nylon or plastic with tiny openings that encourage worker bees to load the trap with propolis. Propolis production peaks in the autumn, since bees prefer to seal all the pores and crevices in their hive before the winter cold arrives. ROLE OF PROPOLIS IN AQUAFEED Growth promoter: Nutrition is crucial in aquaculture since it accounts for 40-50% of the total cost of production. The antibacterial and antioxidant action of propolis components is thought to aid in intestinal health, digestion, and absorption while also boosting growth performance. The vitamins (B1, C, E) and minerals (Fe, Al, Mn) present in the propolis additionally promotes enzyme activity and digestive cofactors which paves way to increase the nutritional absorption and digestion, increasing fish weight. Additionally, it helps in promoting the sperm quality and fertility. Immunostimulant effect: In aquaculture, immunostimulatory drugs are commonly employed to boost innate immune responses. Propolis activates macrophages that regulate the non-specific immunity. Propolis stimulates the production of cytokines including IL-1, IL-2, and TNF-a, which activate T and B lymphocytes and it can also control macrophage C1q synthesis as well as complement receptor activity, either directly or via cytokines, altering the immune response's early stages.
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