Preparation
Technique of Nanopropolis Liposomes and Their Potential to Improve Animal
Health
Pudjiatmoko
Member
of the Nanotechnology Technical Committee, National Standardization Agency of
Indonesia
ABSTRACT
Propolis is a natural product produced by
honey bees, containing various bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenols,
and aromatic acids that exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, and
anti-inflammatory properties. However, its use in animal health applications
remains limited due to its poor water solubility and instability under heat and
light. One innovative approach to enhance the stability and bioavailability of
propolis is through nano-propolis liposome (NPL) technology. This article
discusses the techniques used in the preparation of nano-propolis liposomes and
their potential applications in improving animal health and performance.
Keywords: propolis, liposome,
nanoparticle, antioxidant, animal health
1. INTRODUCTION
Propolis is widely recognized as a natural
product rich in bioactive compounds with diverse biological activities,
including antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects
(Burdock, 1998; Bankova et al., 2019). In the field of animal health, propolis
shows promise as a natural feed additive to enhance the immune system, improve
growth performance, and reduce reliance on antibiotics (Seven et al.,
2020).
However, the conventional use of propolis
faces limitations due to its physicochemical properties, such as poor water
solubility, susceptibility to degradation by heat, light, and oxidation, and
low bioavailability after oral administration (Tanuwiria et al., 2021).
Therefore, technological approaches are required to protect and enhance the
efficacy of its active constituents. One of the most widely applied
technologies for this purpose is the liposome-based nanodelivery system (Anjum et
al., 2019; Hosseini et al., 2022).
2. METHOD
This article was prepared using a literature
review method, by examining various scientific sources related to liposomal
technology and the application of propolis in animal health. Data and
information were collected from research articles, scientific reviews, and
technical reports published in national and international peer-reviewed
journals between 1998 and 2024.
The literature search was conducted through
databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, and DOAJ
using keywords: “liposome propolis,” “nano-propolis,” “liposomal delivery
system,” and “animal health.” The selected articles included studies
on (1) liposome preparation methods, (2) nano-propolis characterization, and
(3) biological applications in animals.
All references were evaluated based on
relevance, novelty, and scientific validity. Information from each source was
synthesized and systematically presented into several sections: preparation
techniques, characterization, health benefits, and future prospects.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Preparation Technique of Nano-Propolis
Liposomes
3.1.1. Propolis Extraction
Raw propolis is cleaned of impurities and
air-dried, then extracted using 70–80% ethanol to dissolve bioactive compounds
such as flavonoids and phenolics (Bankova et al., 2018). The ethanolic
extract is filtered, and the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure at
low temperature using a rotary evaporator to obtain a viscous propolis extract
(da Silva et al., 2017).
3.1.2. Preparation of Liposomal Components
The main components of liposomes are
phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) and cholesterol, which form the bilayer
structure and stabilize vesicle integrity (Mozafari et al., 2008). These
components are dissolved in organic solvents such as chloroform or ethanol to
obtain a homogeneous lipid solution.
3.1.3. Thin-Film Hydration Method
The most common method for liposome
preparation is the thin-film hydration technique. The lipid solution is
evaporated under reduced pressure at 40–50°C using a rotary evaporator to form
a thin lipid film on the flask wall. The film is then hydrated with a propolis
extract solution in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) to produce a coarse liposomal
suspension (Akbarzadeh et al., 2013).
3.1.4. Particle Size Reduction
The coarse liposomal suspension is processed
using ultrasonication or membrane extrusion to produce nanoparticles with sizes
ranging from 50 to 200 nm (Bulbake et al., 2017). This step is crucial
to improve stability, homogeneity, and the penetration ability of propolis
bioactives.
3.1.5. Characterization and Stability of
Liposomes
Characterization is conducted using Dynamic
Light Scattering (DLS) to determine the average particle size, polydispersity
index (PDI), and zeta potential (Mozafari, 2005). Liposomes with PDI < 0.3
and zeta potential > ±30 mV are considered physically stable. The
formulations are stored at 4°C to maintain their physical and chemical
stability (Tavakoli et al., 2021).
3.2. Benefits of Nano-Propolis Liposomes for
Animal Health
Several studies have demonstrated that
nano-propolis liposomes (NPL) exert significant physiological and immunological
effects in livestock. In poultry, NPL supplementation has been shown to improve
body weight gain, feed efficiency, and intestinal health, particularly under
heat stress conditions (Hosseini et al., 2022; Purnama et al.,
2024).
Furthermore, NPL exhibits strong antioxidant
activity by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide
dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), while reducing
malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in tissues (Seven et al., 2020; Afroz et
al., 2024). Immunomodulatory effects have also been reported through
increased immunoglobulin levels and upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine
genes such as TNF-α and IL-10 (Hosseini et al., 2022).
3.3. Prospects and Challenges of NPL
Development
Although nano-propolis liposome technology
offers numerous advantages, several challenges remain, including high
production costs, the need for specialized equipment, and the necessity of
long-term safety assessments to ensure residue safety in animal-derived
products (Anjum et al., 2019). Additionally, the stability during
storage and distribution requires optimization through lipid composition
adjustments and proper storage conditions (Tavakoli et al., 2021).
Integration of basic and applied research in
veterinary nanotechnology is essential to accelerate the adoption of NPL
technology in modern livestock production systems and sustainable animal
farming.
4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1. Conclusion
Nano-propolis liposomes (NPL) represent an
innovative bioactive delivery system that effectively enhances the stability,
bioavailability, and biological activity of propolis in animals. NPL
application has great potential to improve growth performance, strengthen
antioxidant status, and enhance immune responses in animals exposed to
environmental stress, such as heat stress. This technology offers a natural
alternative to antibiotic growth promoters and supports sustainable livestock
practices within the One Health framework.
4.2. Recommendations for Future Research
Future research should focus on optimizing
nano-propolis liposome formulations, including variations in phospholipid
composition, propolis-to-cholesterol ratios, and the effects of particle size
on absorption efficiency and storage stability. In addition, comprehensive in
vivo studies on various animal species are needed to evaluate the long-term
physiological, immunological, and toxicological effects, as well as economic
and industrial feasibility assessments to facilitate large-scale implementation
of NPL technology in the livestock sector.
REFERENCES
1.Afroz
T., Rahman M., Chowdhury A. 2024. The prevalence, isolation, and antimicrobial
susceptibility testing of Enterococcus species from various clinical samples in
a tertiary care hospital. Journal of Vocational Health Studies
7(1):200-205.
2.Akbarzadeh
A., Rezaei-Sadabady R., Davaran S., Joo S.W., Zarghami N., Hanifehpour Y.,
Samiei M., Kouhi M., Nejati-Koshki K. 2013. Liposome: Classification,
preparation, and applications. Nanoscale Research Letters 8:102.
3.Anjum
S., Abbasi B.H., Shinwari Z.K. 2019. Plant-mediated green synthesis of silver
nanoparticles for biomedical applications: Challenges and opportunities. Phytochemistry
Reviews 18(4):1-35.
4.Bankova
V., Bertelli D., Borba R., Conti B.J., da Silva Cunha I.B. 2019. Standard
methods for Apis mellifera propolis research. Bee World 96(2):39-44.
5.Bankova
V., Popova M., Trusheva B. 2018. The phytochemistry of the honeybee. Phytochemistry
155:1-11.
6.Bulbake U., Doppalapudi S., Kommineni N., Khan W.
2017. Liposomal formulations in clinical use: An updated
review. Pharmaceutics 9(2):12-21.
7.Burdock
G.A. 1998. Review of the biological properties and toxicity of bee propolis. Food
and Chemical Toxicology 36(4):347-363.
8.da Silva S.S., Almeida
A., Teixeira P., Oliveira R. 2017. Nanotechnology for the delivery of propolis:
Present status and future perspectives. Pharmaceutics 9(2):32-41.
9.Hosseini S.M., Zarei M., Arabameri M., Rahmani F.
2022. Liposomal nano-propolis as a natural antioxidant to
improve growth performance, immunity, and gut health in broiler chickens under
heat stress. Poultry Science 101(12):102205.
10.Mozafari
M.R. 2005. Liposomes: An overview of manufacturing techniques. Cellular
& Molecular Biology Letters 10(4):711-719.
11.Mozafari
M.R., Johnson C., Hatziantoniou S., Demetzos C. 2008. Nanoliposomes and their
applications in food nanotechnology. Journal of Liposome Research
18(4):309-327.
12.Purnama
R., Yanti D., Widodo E. 2024. Nano-propolis liposome as an anti-stress agent in
broiler chickens exposed to cyclic heat stress. Jurnal Kedokteran Hewan
19(2):145-154.
13.Seven
I., Tatli Seven P., Gul Baykalir B., Iflazoglu Mutlu S., Eser G. 2020. The
effects of propolis on performance, antioxidant, and immune status in broilers
exposed to heat stress. Poultry Science 99(12):6336-6345.
14.Tanuwiria U.H., Widiastuti R., Tanuwiria L.,
Cahyadi M. 2021. The use of propolis as an alternative feed
additive to improve the health and productivity of livestock. Livestock
Research for Rural Development 33(9).
15.Tavakoli F., Bakhshi A., Ghahremani S., et al.
2021. Liposome formulation optimization and stability
evaluation for encapsulation of herbal bioactives. Journal of
Nanobiotechnology 19:1-13.
#Nano-Propolis,
#liposome technology,
#animal health,
#Veterinary Nanotechnology,
#propolis research,
#antibiotic alternatives,
#nanobiotechnology,
#Livestock Innovation,
RSS Feed (xml)
