Types and usage of preparations based on propolis in Serbia application/pdf 844974 bytes All rights reserved info:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceProceedings 2025 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8641 doi:10.1186/s12919-025-00347-z BMC Proceedings volume: 19 number: 28 startpage: 8 endpage: 8 Propolis is a natural product produced by bees (Apis mellifera) for the protection and defence of hives. It is a very complex mixture of biologically active compounds (fatty acids, aliphatic and aromatic acids, polyphenols - predominantly flavonoids, alcohols, terpenes, sugars, various types of esters, etc.) characterized by antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects. Propolis is widely used in cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products. The most common galenic forms on the market of the Republic of Serbia in which propolis is the active ingredient are liquid preparations i.e. drops (21.8%) and sprays (20.6%), followed by syrups (12.2%) and gels (11.6%). Pastilles, powders, vaginal tablets, oriblets and ointments are also represented. The conducted survey on the population’s awareness of the medicinal properties of propolis and its use included 213 respondents (67.5% male; 32.5% female). The majority of respondents live in urban areas (71.2%), in villages 22% and 6.6% in suburban settlements. More than 76% of respondents stated that they are familiar with the medicinal properties of propolis. More than a half of respondents (54.2%) occasionally use preparation based on propolis, while 12.3% use it every day. Nearly half (49%) of the respondents learned about propolis preparations from friends or family, while only 18.2% received a recommendation from a pharmacist and 5.1% from physician while 50.8% of respondents always buy propolis products in a pharmacy. Regarding side effects, only 10% of respondents stated that they had side effects, but 89% were not informed to whom they should report side effects. eng Šavikin, Katarina Živković, Jelena Ćujić Nikolić, Nada Janković, Tijana Ilić, Milan Jovanović Lješković, Nataša