Efficacy of Brazilian green propolis (EPP-AF®) as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients

This randomized, controlled, open-label, single-center trial was conducted on 124 patients with COVID-19 receiving either 0, 400 or 800 mg/day EPP-AF® brazilian green propolis for 28 days. All participants received standard care including all necessary interventions, as determined by physician.

Results indicate that the length of hospital stay post-intervention was shorter in both propolis groups (6 and 7 days for high and low dose respectively) than in the control group (12 days, lower dose, p = 0.049; higher dose, p = 0.009). Propolis did not significantly affect the need for oxygen supplementation. In the high dose propolis group, there was a lower rate of acute kidney injury than in the controls (p = 0.048). No patient had propolis treatment discontinued due to adverse events.

In conclusion, addition of propolis to the standard care procedures resulted in clinical benefits for the hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with a significant reduction in hospital stay.

Silveira MAD, De Jong D, Berretta AA, Galvão EBDS, Ribeiro JC, Cerqueira-Silva T, Amorim TC, Conceição LFMRD, Gomes MMD, Teixeira MB, Souza SP, Santos MHCAD, San Martin RLA, Silva MO, Lírio M, Moreno L, Sampaio JCM, Mendonça R, Ultchak SS, Amorim FS, Ramos JGR, Batista PBP, Guarda SNFD, Mendes AVA, Passos RDH; BeeCovid Team. Efficacy of Brazilian green propolis (EPP-AF®) as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A randomized, controlled clinical trial. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Jun;138:111526.

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