Propolis applications in food industries and packaging

Propolis has been utilized as a natural bio-product from beekeeping for various applications such as wound healing, food packaging, and food production. However, the applications of propolis as food additives are limited by the low oral bioavailability, bitter taste, and aroma. The current review investigates the recent techniques, such as encapsulation, microencapsulation, film casting, and composite materials, which enhance the propolis availability for food applications. Propolis enhances the mechanical properties, oxygen and moisture barrier, antioxidant, and microbial resistance of the resulting materials. Therefore, the utilization of propolis composites as an effective food packaging in the future is promising. Based on these results, the food industry can benefit from developing propolis-based composite.