Episode 101 of the Bees with Ben podcast showcases the research of Dr Trong Tran, who lectures in
chemistry at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and the magical substance known as propolis! Ben
met Trong at the recent 4 th Australian Bee Congress in Sydney and knew immediately that his work
on propolis would make for a fascinating chat. Propolis is well known to have antioxidant qualities
that may have great therapeutic potential for humans. It helps promote healthy bee hives and can
inhibit foulbroods and chalkbrood.
Trong originally came to Australia from his native Vietnam 14 years ago to work on his Masters
project, which involved searching for bioactive compounds that exhibited anticancer properties in
marine organisms, with a special emphasis on attempting to identify compounds that may be
valuable in the treatment of prostate cancer. He was awarded a PhD degree in Organic Chemistry
from Griffith University in 2015, and then undertook postdoctoral research in the National Cancer
Institute - US National Institutes of Health. In 2019 he was the recipient of an Australian Endeavour
Executive Leadership Award. Trong has thereby gained extensive research experience in natural
product drug discovery but explains to Ben that it can be a very long road from identifying a
beneficial bioactive compound to getting it approved for human use; involving significant investment
from pharmaceutical companies and substantial clinical research. A lot of time and expense can be
spared by focussing on agricultural research - dealing with raw, natural products that are already
consumed by humans with no ill effect. The raw material (rather than an isolated chemical
compound) therefore becomes the product. Trong says this was part of the reason he switched the
subject of his research to agriculture, and then specifically propolis, about 3 years back.
Starting with propolis derived from native stingless bees, he was able to demonstrate wound healing
properties; the propolis helped to improve scars and exhibited anti-scarring activity. Trong then
turned his attention to honey bee propolis, aware that this could represent another significant
source of income for beekeepers. The beneficial properties of propolis appear to derive largely from
bioactive components of plant resins, in particular polyphenols. This large family of organic
compounds is abundant amongst plant species. Trong tells Ben that most premium propolis contains
a high level of polyphenolic compounds, which act as antioxidants and can assist in boosting
immunity and in the treatment of diabetes and other conditions.
How does one consume a daily dose of propolis? Trong says that some people like to make a
tincture, but that this is best stored under cold and dark conditions. Propolis can also be processed
into a powder which can be mixed into drinks or sold as capsules or tablets. And the appropriate
amount? This is currently the subject of further research. The resins in Australian propolis are very
different from those overseas. The recommended dosage for Brazilian green propolis, for example, is
up to 500mg per day. However, when used as a treatment to boost immune function in Covid
patients, 1500mg was used daily. Trong stresses that propolis is not a food, and that more research
is required with Australian propolis to establish, for instance, if there is any toxicity associated with
ingesting large quantities. He says that the propolis industry in Brazil has been going for 30 years,
and that they are consequently far more advanced in understanding level of polyphenolic compounds.