Since primeval times, the inflammatory process has been described in many different ways. Several anti-inflammatory therapies have been used in different biological models. However, in a recent "back to nature move", modern man is searching for natural products with medicinal properties, particularly those obtained from plants and bees. Propolis has been used in folk medicine for a very long time. The many compounds present in propolis require investigation.Physical-chemical analysis studies have not sufficiently established quality standards of propolis containing products. These standards should depend especially on their different pharmacological activities. There are few studies reporting on the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of propolis containing products. It is necessary to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of commercial products containing propolis

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Summary — Crude propolis and commercial products containing propolis, such as ethanolic extracts, tablets, capsules and powders acquired in São Paulo City (Brazil) were analyzed. The resins of the solid products were extracted with ethanol and found to be present at various concentrations, independently of the propolis concentration specified on the label of the commercial products. The in vitro activity of these resins against S aureus, B cereus and B subtilis was also determined. The results showed that the antibacterial activity rather than the propolis concentration itself should be considered for quality control and that some resins are likely to display a species-specific action.propolis / resin / Apis mellifera / quality control / antibacterial activity / Staphylococcus aureus

The anti-inflammatory activity of 14 commercial ethanol extracts of propolis were evaluated, using a mouse ear inflammation model induced by arachidonic acid. Indometacin was also assayed as standard anti-inflammatory agent. Different activities were observed and discussed. This model could be used to assess the anti-inflammatory quality of propolis extracts and facilitate their posological usage on skin edema resulting from wounds.

RESUMO Própolis de Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) é um produto da colméia, elaborado a partir de exsudatos de resinas que as abelhas recolhem de determinadas plantas. A composição química da própolis é complexa e relacionada à diversidade vegetal encontrada em torno da colméia. Embora a própolis seja utilizada em medicina popular por milhares de anos, a falta de padrões que avaliem de maneira precisa suas atividades farmacológicas, dificulta a estandardização de produtos comerciais que garanta sua eficácia e segurança terapêutica para humanos e outros animais. Nesta revisão estão sumarizados alguns desenvolvimentos recentes da pesquisa farmacológica da própolis, enfocando-se as atividades antiinflamatórias, antimicrobianas, antineoplásica e antioxidante.