Propolis, a waxy substance made by bees, showed promise in laboratory and animal studies against several cancer types—particularly oral, gastrointestinal, skin, breast, and prostate cancers. It works through multiple mechanisms: triggering cancer cell death, stopping cell growth, and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the research is mostly preliminary; human clinical trials are needed before propolis can be considered an actual cancer treatment.

This was a literature review that summarized existing research on propolis's anti-cancer properties and mechanisms. The authors didn't conduct new experiments—they analyzed and synthesized findings from multiple studies to identify patterns.

Funding not disclosed in abstract