Malaysian stingless bee propolis: unearthing a bioactive treasure trove / Rozaini Mohd Zohdi

Stingless bees, part of the Meliponini tribe, offer a captivating glimpse into the diverse world of bees. Unlike their stinging relatives, these bees are characterized by their lack of a stinger and play an essential role in the pollination of native plants. With over 500 species documented globally, the Neotropical region emerges as a hotspot for their diversity1. Known locally as 'lebah kelulut' in Malaysia, these bees have gained recognition for their adept pollination of both wild flowering plants and cultivated crops, a role that underpins biodiversity conservation and food security. Malaysia hosts around 50 species of stingless bees, which has sparked growing interest in stingless beekeeping, also known as meliponiculture [2]. This practice offers significant ecological and economic benefits. Not only does meliponiculture promote habitat conservation, but it also allows beekeepers to engage in high-value honey production and obtain other hive products such as beebread and propolis.