Excellent Quality
Propolis produced by Nihon Natural Therapy Co Ltd lie in the stringent management system set up from raw material production at our own apiary in Brazil. This ensures stable and optimal component quality in our propolis. Additionally, our unique extraction technology carefully extracts all the components of propolis without wasting any. We conduct precise analysis and thorough management to ensure product quality and safety.
Six conditions for
the highest quality propolis
1Environment
The beehives are placed in locations that are not affected by farms using pesticides, factories using chemicals, or roads with heavy car exhaust.
2Bee Species
Bees with the ability to create high quality propolis, specifically Africanized bees, which are known for their excellent propolis production capabilities and are found only in certain parts of Brazil.
3Medical Plants
Plants with high pharmacological activity – Baccharis dracunculifolia
4Freshness
It is important to collect fresh propolis and quickly enter the extraction process.
5Consistent Extract Composition
The composition and content of the extracted components remain consistent.
6Harvesting Season
Only propolis harvested during spring to summer (6 months) are used, as it has been shown that propolis harvested in spring and summer has the highest bioactivity.
Circular Mobile Beekeeping
New plant buds are rich in nutrients, and bees gnaw on these buds to make propolis. When plants lose their buds, they cannot bloom and disperse pollen, making natural reproduction impossible. The buds of medicinal plant B. dracunculifolia, which resides in our apiary, is also gnawed on by bees. Consequently, it cannot reproduce naturally, weakening in about five years, which results in a decline in the quality of propolis produced in the surrounding area.
At our apiary, we utilize our vast land area to plant young B. dracunculifolia seedlings far from the hives. Over approximately three years, these seedlings grow into mature B. dracunculifolia forests, where we then relocate the hives. This ‘circulating mobile beekeeping’ method ensures that there are always healthy B. dracunculifolia plants around the hives, enabling the sustainable production of high quality propolis.
Our unique high-quality propolis
extraction technology
There are mainly four types of extraction methods for propolis, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. No matter how good the quality of the raw propolis material is, the nature of the resulting propolis extract varies significantly depending on the extraction method used.
Extraction methods for propolis:
- 1) Alcohol Extraction
- 2) Water Extraction
- 3) Supercritical Fluid Extraction
- 4) Micellization Extraction
Most of the components in propolis are fat-soluble and do not dissolve easily in water. The alcohol extraction efficiently extracts these fat-soluble components. This method has a long history and is also used in the extraction of Chinese and herbal medicines. On the other hand, propolis also contains water-soluble components, which can be extracted using the water extraction.
Our unique “Alcohol + Water” extraction combines these techniques to extract all components without leaving anything out. This method uses plant-derived fermented alcohol and water, ensuring the maximum utilization of beneficial propolis components while providing a safe and reliable extraction process. Since our company’s founding, we have consistently used the “Alcohol + Water” extraction.
Quality Management and Safety Measures
Thorough Quality Management
(Component analysis by HPLC and spectrophotometer)
Propolis Extract of Nihon Natural Therapy Co Ltd uses only the highest quality propolis harvested from our own apiary in Brazil. The raw propolis is airlifted to our manufacturing facility in Japan within two weeks of collection and immediately enters the extraction process.
The extraction and maturation periods are determined by the experience of skilled craftsmen and precise chemical analysis results. The resulting extract undergoes rigorous testing with various analytical instruments before it is manufactured into products. This ensures a stable and safe propolis extract with co nsistent components, made from the highest quality raw materials, skilled techniques, and the latest analytical equipment.
Comparison of Major Component Content in Propolis Extract
Nihon Natural Therapy
Brazilian propolis
Alcohol + Water extraction
Company A
Brazilian propolis
Alcohol Extraction
Company B
Brazilian propolis
Alcohol Extraction
Company C
Brazilian propolis
Alcohol + Supercritical Fluid extraction
Company D
Brazilian propolis
Water Extraction
Company E
Australian propolis
Alcohol Extraction
Strict Safety Management
At our own apiary in Brazil, we prioritize quality and safety above all else, ensuring that no pesticides, antibiotics, or similar substances are used. Throughout the manufacturing process, rigorous internal inspections and safety reassessments are conducted at every stage. Pesticides are regularly analyzed and confirmed safe by third-party organizations(refer to the analysis test report). Our company is a regular member of both the Japan Health and Nutrition Food Association and the Japan Propolis Council, and our products comply with the standards of these two organizations, bearing their certification.
Test Results
| Analysis items | Results | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy metal (Pb) | ≦20ppm |
| 2 | Arsenic (As) | ≦0.5ppm |
| 3 | ＰＣＢ | Not detected |
| 4 | Pesticide residue (endrin and dieldrin) | Not detected |
| 5 | Antibiotics (tetracyclines and streptomycin) | Not detected |
| 6 | Aerobic plate count | ≦300 CFU/g |
| 7 | mold | ≦10 CFU/g |
| 8 | yeast | ≦10 CFU/g |
| 9 | coliform | Negative |
Collaborative Research with Domestic and International Research Institutions
Propolis has a long history and empirical evaluation as a folk medicine. At our company, we not only have our own research institute staffed with a Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Science specializing in propolis research, but we also collaborate with universities and research institutions both domestically and internationally. We engage in scientific evaluations such as basic research and clinical applications. Since our founding, we have continued to present numerous research achievements as conference presentations and articles in collaboration with our long-term research partner, Medical University of Silesia in Poland.
Research Achievement
- Title：Ethanolic extract of Brazilian green propolis sensitizes prostate cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis
Journal(year)：International Journal of Oncology (2011) - Title：Influence of propolis on hygiene, gingival condition, and oral microflora in patients with cleft lip and plate treated with fixed orthodontic appliances
Journal(year)：Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013) - Title：Influence of the toothpaste with Brazilian ethanol extract propolis on the oral cavity health
Journal(year)：Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013) - Title：Chemical composition and Anti-inflammatory effect of ethanolic extract of Brazilian green propolis on activated J774A.1 macrophages
Journal(year)：Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013) - Title：Histone deacetylase inhibitory effect of Brazilian propolis and its association with the antitumor effect in Neuro2a cells
Journal(year)：Food Science & Nutrition (2014) - Title：The Assessment of Oral Microflora Exposed to 3% Ethanolic Extract of Brazilian Green Propolis Preparation Used for Hygiene Maintenance following Minor Oral Surgeries
Journal(year)：BioMed Research International (2015) - Title：The Influence of Ethanolic Extract of Brazilian Green Propolis Gel on Hygiene and Oral Microbiota in Patients after Mandible Fractures
Journal(year)：BioMed Research International (2016) - Title：The effect of ethanolic extract of Brazilian green propolis and artepillin C on aFGF-1, Eselectin, and CD40L secreted by human gingival fibroblasts
Journal(year)：Central-European journal of immunology (2021)