“Sore throat, commonly associated with pharyngitis and tonsillitis, is primarily caused by bacterial pathogens. Conventional therapies rely on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs; however, concerns about adverse effects, antibiotic resistance, and drug interactions have encouraged the search for alternative remedies.
Cannabis sativa L. (CS) has demonstrated potential in relieving sore throat and inflammation, while propolis, a bee-derived natural product, exhibits notable antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities.
This study aimed to investigate the enhanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of combining CS and propolis extracts (PE).
Results found that CS and PE exhibited antibacterial effects against Streptococcus pyogenes DMST 4369, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027. Their combination produced additive antibacterial effects against S. pyogenes and S. aureus.
Cannabidiol (CBD) was identified as an active antibacterial constituent against S. pyogenes. Additionally, the PE-CBD in CS solution combination at concentration 625:0.125 µg/mL significantly reduced NO production and suppressed proinflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated macrophages.
This study highlights the enhanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential of the C. sativa and propolis combination, emphasizing the need to verify synergistic effects and determine the appropriate ratio for rational product development. Further research is needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of action, particularly the anti-inflammatory pathways, in animal models. In addition, studies on hepatotoxicity should be conducted to ensure safety.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41303662
“PE is commonly used for sore throat relief and is recommended for bacterial infections, and CBD derived from C. sativa is known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This study explores the combination of propolis and C. sativa extract, hypothesizing that an optimized combination may work additively to enhance the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
The findings demonstrate that propolis and C. sativa extract exhibit antibacterial activity against pathogens such as S. pyogenes and S. aureus. Moreover, a combination of C. sativa solution and propolis solution at a ratio of 1:0.5 and 1:1 indicated that they exerted additive antibacterial effects.
Notably, CBD and Δ9-THC were identified as active compounds against S. pyogenes, an important respiratory tract pathogen.
In addition, the combination of C. sativa solution and propolis at a ratio of 1:0.5 at concentrations of 0.125 µg/mL and 625 µg/mL, respectively, significantly reduced NO generation and suppressed the release of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8), thereby providing enhanced anti-inflammatory effects compared to the individual extracts.
Overall, this novel combination shows significant advantages over existing treatments by enhancing both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting its potential for further development in herbal pharmaceutical formulations. Given its local action and ease of administration, this combination may be considered promising for future formulation as an oral spray.”