title: The Use of Propolis in Micro/Nanostructured Pharmaceutical Formulations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Propolis is a resinous material with complex chemical structure, produced by bees using plant sources, displaying a wide spectrum of biological activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Many studies have reported the use of this compound in pharmaceutical, medicinal, veterinary and dentistry areas, and the results have reported its pharmacological activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moreover, many propolis delivery systems have been proposed and evaluated, indicating that they can be used. On the other hand, considering its chemical and physical characteristics, propolis could be used as a material to produce micro/nano-structured pharmaceutical formulations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work reviews the recent studies of development of micro/nanostructured systems using propolis or its byproduct. In addition, patents were reviewed and categorized.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil. mlbruschi@uem.br.
authors.forename: Marcos L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.forename: Raphaela R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: de A Pereira
authors.forename: Lizziane M B
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Francisco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011429:Propolis / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005079:Excipients; D011429:Propolis