External Use of Propolis for Oral, Skin, and Genital Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 2

Characteristics of the included RCTs for skin diseases.

First author, year	Location of propolis production, chemical composition of propolis	Used form of propolis, amount used	Patient’s disease, sample size (randomized/analysed)	Experimental group (intervention, regimen)	Control group (intervention, regimen)	Outcome measures	Main results	AE
Gregroy, 2002 [24]	n.r., n.r.	Cream, n.r.	Second-degree burns, 33/	(A) PC, , 1 session	(B) SSD, , 1 session	(1) CFU; (2) Duration of treatment for burns	(1) NS; (2) (A) better than (B) but NS	n.r.
Kucharzewski, 2013 [25]	Poland, n.r.	Ointment, n.r.	Varicose veins of lower extremities with ulcer, 56/56	(A) PO + rinsing the ulcer with PSCS + compression treatment, , PO: 7 to 42 sessions (1 time per day until healing); the others: 7 to 42 sessions (1 time per week until healing)	(B) Rinsing the ulcer with PSCS + compression treatment, , 28 to 102 sessions (1 time per week until healing)	(1) Duration of treatment for ulcer	(1)	n.r.
Ngatu, 2011 [26]	Japan, n.r.	Extract, n.r.	Tinea capitis and tinea versicolour, 242/188	(A) PE (50 mg/mL), , 28 sessions (1 time per day for 28 days)	(B) PE (100 mg/mL), , 28 sessions (1 time per day for 28 days); (C) Acacia honey, , 28 sessions (1 time per day for 28 days); (D) Miconazole, , 28 sessions (1 time per day for 28 days); (E) Vaseline, , 28 sessions (1 time per day for 28 days)	(1) Pruritus; (2) Papule, pustule; (3) Erythema; (4) Desquamation; (5) WBC; (6) Leukocytes	(1) , , , significantly better than (E); (2) Significant difference in , , ,; (3) , , , significantly better than (E); (4) , , , significantly better than (E); (5) , , , significantly better than (E), but NS between (C) and (E); (6) NS	Itch (1 in group (D))
Park, 2013 [27]	Korea, n.r.	Mask pack, 2 g	Acne, 30/30	(A) PMP, , 10 sessions (1 time per week for 4 weeks)	(B) PPMP, , 10 sessions (1 time per week for 4 weeks)	(1) Skin conditions; ① Moisture; ② Sebum; ③ Elasticity; (2) Number of acne lesions; ① Stuff; ② Papule; ③ Pustule	(1); ①; ②, ③; (2); ①, ② NS; ③	n.r.
Yin, 2013 [28]	China, n.r.	Ointment, n.r.	Other specified diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer, 60/60	(A) PO + VT, , PO: 4 times per day for 17 months, VT: 24 months	(B) VT, , 24 months	(1) TER for ulcer	(1)	n.r.

; ; ; patients with two burn areas received PC and SSD.
AE: adverse events; CFU: colony forming units; negative: (B) significantly better than (A); n.r.: not reported; NS: no significant difference between groups; PC: propolis cream; PE: propolis extract; PMP: propolis mask pack; PO: propolis ointment; positive: (A) significantly better than (B); PPMP: pine pollen mask pack; PSCS: physiological sodium chloride solution; SSD: silver sulfadiazine; TER: total effective rate; VT: vasodilator therapy; WBC: white blood cell.