Forty-six men and forty-four women aged 18-69 with recurrent genital herpes simplex virus type 2, participated in a single-blind, randomized controlled multi-center trial. Patients were treated during an active outbreak with either a 3% propolis ointment, 5% acyclovir ointment, or placebo ointment four times daily for 10 days. Patients were examined on day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 10 of treatment. Lesions were noted for location, number, size and stage. They were classified as vesicular, ulcerated, crusted or healed. Laboratory and clinical examinations were conducted. Both groups were considered equal for the stage of the lesion at initial examination and the nature of the symptoms. On day 3 of the treatment, 50% on propolis ointment, 27% on acyclovir and 0% taking placebo had crusted lesions. On day 7, and of the patients who had ulcerations, 10 taking propolis, 4 taking acyclovir and 3 taking placebo were healed. On day 10 of the treatment, and of the patients who initially had ulcerations, 100% were healed in the propolis group, 80% in the acyclovir group and 70% in the placebo group were healed. In the group with initial vesicular lesions, more patients had healed completely in the propolis group (50%) than in the acyclovir group (13%) and placebo group (25%) together. When the overall treatment was completed after 10 days, 24/30 patients had healed in the propolis group, 14/30 in the acyclovir group and 12/30 in the placebo group. No adverse effects related to the medication were noted in any of the groups at any of the examinations.

Comment: Genital herpes is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the developed world. Of women visiting gynecological clinics, 2-6% exhibit genital herpetic infections. Recurrent genital herpes infections can be difficult to treat. Topical treatments used acutely and systemic treatments used in the interim as well as acutely, are an excellent combined approach. Topical acyclovir, topical lemon balm and topical lysine have been used with some success. We now have another not only viable option, but perhaps preferable. Propolis is rich in flavonoids that have demonstrable anti-viral properties in vitro. Propolis exhibits its antimicrobial effects by inhibiting cell division, disorganizing the cytoplasmic membrane in the cell wall and inhibiting protein synthesis. The exact mechanism beyond these issues is not fully understood.
Vynograd N, Bynograd I, Seonewski Z. A comparative multi-centre study of the efficacy of propolis, acyclovir and placebo in the treatment of genital herpes (HSV).Phytomedicine 2000; 7(1):1:1-6.