Propolis in Aquaculture: A Review of Its Potential

Propolis is a viscose waxy resin produced by bees through the combination of plant exudates, wax, pollen and an enzyme present in bee saliva, with antiseptic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Natural products such as propolis may offer a variety of applications in aquaculture, minimizing the risk and side effects that synthetic products used in this activity may have, such as a negative environmental impact and on animal/human health due to their ecotoxicity. Unfortunately, aquaculture depends on the use of chemicals for its development to control several diseases that affect this industry. In this review, a bibliographic survey of the functional properties attributed to propolis in scientific publications, and the advances in its understanding and use as an immunostimulant, food additive, antimicrobial and therapeutant within the aquaculture industry was done; concluding that propolis is a natural functional additive, which used at the appropriate dosage results in better fish health, thus improving productivity and having a great potential for its use in aquaculture.