Calling African beekeepers

Propolis is turning out to be an amazing substance. For the last 20 years, we have been researching its chemical and biological properties and have analysed 400+ samples from all over the world, working with the UK Universities of Bradford, Oxford and Strathclyde.

We have discovered, for example, that where bees collect propolis in very hot and humid climates, the antibacterial properties of the propolis are greater than where the bees collect it in warm, dry climates. Why? Is it because bacteria thrive and are therefore more of a threat in hot, warm climates? Even more interesting is that we have discovered that where bees collect propolis in savannah areas where the human population suffers from sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), then the propolis from those areas contains chemicals - antitrypanosomes - which appear to be active against sleeping sickness. However, if you look outside the area where sleeping sickness is prevalent, these chemicals are not present.

It seems that the bee is somehow picking up the plant’s response to the protozoa which cause sleeping sickness and incorporating this into its own defence mechanism. If this turns out to be true, then we could be looking at an easily accessible medicine for sleeping sickness in the very areas where the illness is present. Malaria is also carried by a protozoon, so we are interested to know whether propolis collected in areas where malaria is present contains anti-malarial agents. This research opens up some incredible possibilities, particularly for Africa, concerning locally available medicine for local diseases. We need to do more work: the team of researchers at the University of Strathclyde has recently been awarded research funds to look specifically at the medicinal properties of propolis in Africa.

Therefore we are calling on all beekeepers in Africa to send us samples of propolis from their area along with information about the climate, plants and trees in the locality, and the diseases that affect the local human population. We need samples of about 50 g. The information we are asking for is as important as the propolis itself. Samples should be placed in a plastic bag and sealed. This should be mailed in a protective, if possible padded, envelope to the Apiceutical Research Centre (ARC). For each propolis sample we receive, ARC will sponsor the sender to receive BfD Journal for one year. We will let you have the analysis of the samples as soon as we get them and keep you informed about the course of the research.

Please send your samples to: Apiceutical Research Centre, 6 Hunter Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 3DA, UK, and send an email to info@beesfordevelopment.org to let us know the package is on its way.

Find out all about ARC at www.beearc.com where you can also find reminders about where to send your samples and what information we need: register on the site and ask us to send you the forms.

James Fearnley, Director, ARC