Bee Propolis Capsules: What Propolis Is and What 4800mg Means
Honey is what a hive makes to eat, and propolis is what it makes to live in. Bees gather sticky resin from the plants around them and work it into a dark, fragrant putty, which they use to seal every crack, smooth the inner walls and keep their home at a steady 35°C whatever the weather outside [2]. The Greeks named it for exactly that: pro, in defence of, and polis, the city [2]. Beekeepers simply call it bee glue, and scraping it from the frames is part of the job.
When you meet it in a capsule, you find a label with three different numbers. Our pouch is a good example: 4800mg on the front, 108mg beside it, and a third figure that sits between them [1]. This guide explains what propolis is and how those three numbers fit together, so you know exactly what you are bringing into your daily routine.
Bee propolis capsules at a glance
- What it is: an extract of propolis, the resin-based material honey bees make to build and seal the hive.
- Two capsules: 1,200mg of 4:1 extract, equal to 4,800mg of raw propolis, giving 108mg of flavonoids.
- Three ingredients: the propolis extract, a hypromellose capsule shell and organic brown rice flour.
- Made by bees: propolis from the hive, in a plant-derived hypromellose capsule [1].
- Who it suits: adults who want a daily propolis extract with its flavonoid content printed on the panel.
- Price: £12.99 for 180 capsules, three months at about 14p a day.
BEE PROPOLIS EXTRACT 4800MG · 180 CAPSULES
£12.99 · 90 servings · 2 capsules daily with water · 1,200mg of 4:1 extract, equal to 4,800mg of raw propolis · 108mg flavonoids · about 14p a day
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What is propolis? The bee glue that holds a hive together
Propolis is a resinous substance that bees collect from different kinds of plants and carry home [2]. It is one of the main products of the hive, alongside honey and royal jelly, and the only one of the three the bees make for building and not for food.
What is propolis for? How bees use it in the hive
They use it to seal holes and cracks, to rebuild damaged comb and to smooth the inner surfaces of the hive [2]. It helps the colony hold its internal temperature at 35°C and keeps out the weather and unwelcome visitors [2].
What propolis is made of: resin, wax and propolis flavonoids
Raw propolis is about half resin, with wax making up some 30%, essential oils 10%, pollen 5% and other organic compounds the last 5% [2]. Flavonoids are among those compounds, and twelve different ones have been identified in it [2]. The wax is one reason supplements use an extract, and the flavonoids are what an extract label counts.
Propolis 4800mg on the label: raw propolis, extract and flavonoids
Three numbers describe the same two capsules, and the panel prints two of them: bee propolis (from 4:1 extract) 4,800mg, providing 108mg flavonoids. The 4:1 ratio gives you the third, the number in between.
4,800mg of raw propolis ÷ 4 = 1,200mg of extract in two capsules · 1,200mg × 9% = 108mg of flavonoids · 180 capsules ÷ 2 = 90 days · £12.99 ÷ 90 = about 14p a day.
Bee Propolis Extract 4800mg, nutrition panel and ingredients [1]
So the 4,800mg is the raw propolis behind each serving, the 1,200mg is the extract the two capsules hold, and the 108mg is the 9% of that extract the ingredients list gives as flavonoids.
Propolis capsules in 180 or 90: which is right for you?
Both pouches hold the same formula and the same two-capsule serving. The only differences are how long they last and what a day costs.
Propolis extract for three months: the 180 pouch
If propolis is already part of your routine, the 180 capsules last 90 days at about 14p a day.
Propolis supplement to try first: the 90 pouch
If you would rather try it for six weeks, the 90 capsules last 45 days at about 20p a day.
Here are the two labels side by side. Prices are correct at the time of writing.
2 capsules · 1,200mg of 4:1 extract, equal to 4,800mg of raw propolis · 108mg flavonoids · plant-derived capsule shell
Choose if propolis is already part of your routine · 90 days · £12.99: about 14p a day
2 capsules · the same formula and the same serving · 45 servings
Choose if you want six weeks to try it first · 45 days · £8.99: about 20p a day
You’ll find both pouches in our bee propolis range, and because propolis starts out as resin that bees gather from plants, they’re part of our herbal supplements too [2].
Propolis supplement and royal jelly: two products of the hive
Thinking of adding another product of the hive to your routine? Our Royal Jelly 150mg gives you 150mg of royal jelly, providing 7.5mg of 10-HDA, in one softgel a day. At £7.99 for 60 days, it works out at about 13p a day [4], and our royal jelly guide explains what those numbers on its label mean.
How to take propolis capsules
The label says two capsules daily with water. It names no time of day or season, so take them at whatever time you’re most likely to remember [1].
Bee glue from the hive, two capsules a day
Each serving gives you 108mg of propolis flavonoids, for about 14p a day.
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Bee propolis FAQs
1. What are the benefits of propolis capsules?
Two capsules give you 1,200mg of a 4:1 propolis extract with 108mg of flavonoids, for about 14p a day [1]. Propolis has no authorised health claim on the Great Britain register, so we describe what is in the serving [3].
2. What is propolis made of?
Mostly plant resin, about half, with wax, essential oils, pollen and other organic compounds making up the rest [2]. Bees collect the resin and work it into the material they seal the hive with.
3. Is propolis the same as honey or royal jelly?
No. All three come from the hive, but honey is the colony’s food, royal jelly feeds its larvae and queen, and propolis is its building material. Our royal jelly guide covers that one.
4. What does propolis 4800mg mean on the label?
That 4800mg figure tells you how much raw propolis is used to make the extract in your daily serving. Two capsules hold 1,200mg of extract from 4,800mg of raw propolis, 4 parts concentrated into 1 [1].
5. Can I take propolis if I have a propolis allergy, hay fever or asthma?
The label says: “This product should not be taken by asthma or allergy sufferers.” It also says the product is not intended for children, or pregnant or breastfeeding women, and asks you to consult a doctor before use if you have a medical condition or are taking any medications [1].
6. Are propolis capsules vegan?
The capsule shell is hypromellose, a plant-derived material, and the propolis inside is made by honey bees, as the pouch front says [1].
7. Can I take propolis every day?
Yes. The label directs two capsules daily, so it is made for daily use; just don’t take more than that [1].
8. What are propolis flavonoids?
Flavonoids are a family of plant compounds, and twelve different ones have been identified in propolis [2]. Our extract is prepared so that 9% of its weight is flavonoids, which gives the 108mg on the panel.
If propolis is already part of your routine, take the 180 capsules at about 14p a day. If you want six weeks to decide, start with the 90 capsules at about 20p. Whichever you choose, you get 108mg of propolis flavonoids in two capsules a day, from the material bees build their home with.
References
Checked against the product labels, the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register and the published review cited below, September 2026.
[1] Alpha01. Bee Propolis Extract 4800mg (180 and 90 capsules): pouch front, nutritional information panel, ingredients, suggested use, caution and prices. Accessed 2026-09-20. View Source
[2] Pasupuleti VR, Sammugam L, Ramesh N, Gan SH. Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2017;2017:1259510 (cited only for what propolis is, how bees use it in the hive and what it is made of; its health statements are not used). View Source
[3] Department of Health and Social Care. Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register, GOV.UK (no authorised claim for propolis). Accessed 2026-09-20. View Source
[4] Alpha01. Royal Jelly 150mg (60 softgels): nutritional information panel, suggested use and price. Accessed 2026-09-28. View Source
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