NORTH CAROLINA BEES PRODUCE CANCER-FIGHTING ENZYME
Propolis is a resinous substance collected by bees from the bark and leaves of trees and plants. Named pro (meaning “for” ) - polis (“the city”) by the Greek philosopher Socrates, bees use the resin like cement to seal holes and reinforce the structural stability of the hive.
Known since ancient times for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, the National Cancer Institute gave Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center a $1 million grant to study propolis in the treatment of cancer.
When North Carolina Bee Keepers Association President Charles Heatherly asked where the Wake Forest researchers were getting their propolis, he was told it came from China by way of a lab in Wisconsin. Heatherly offered to work with the scientists to determine whether the propolis manufactured by bees here in North Carolina might also prove potent in the fight against Cancer.
The active compound in propolis is Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE), which has been shown to dramatically improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments while at the same time reducing side effects. Studies show that CAPE can protect mice against inflammation and skin damage from radiation and can protect rats against certain forms of heart muscle damage following chemotherapy treatment.
Grandfather Mountain was one of 20 different sites across North Carolina where Heatherly set up hives to determine if there is CAPE in the propolis produced by North Carolina bees. The propolis harvested from the study hives was then tested for CAPE at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
"The propolis from the hives on Grandfather Mountain did not contain significant amounts of CAPE," reported Heatherly, "but hives near Boone did. That gave us important information because we needed to know if elevation was a factor."
The
task before Heatherly now is to determine from which species of tree
the bees are collecting their CAPE-rich resin and in which season of
the year CAPE levels run highest in the propolis produced.
“I suspect that poplar trees will turn out to be the species that generates the best propolis,” said Heatherly, “and there are poplar trees all over North Carolina. This could turn into a very important cash crop for the bee keepers of our state.”
Mile High Swinging BridgeWildlife HabitatsNature Walks & Hiking TrailsNatural HeritagePlanning Your VisitCalendar of Events
HomeAbout Grandfather MountainGetting HerePress RoomLink to UsContact UsSite MapTerms of UsePrivacy & Security
P.O. Box 129 - US 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway - Linville, NC - 28646
Phone 800-468-7325 Fax: 828-733-2608 Email: nature@grandfather.com
Copyright 2007 Grandfather Mountain. All Rights Reserved.
Designed by