The eco-friendly fabrication of propolis is one of the key bottlenecks that limit the sustainable development of the bee products processing industry. This study successfully developed a straightforward and environmentally benign camellia oil-based propolis oleogel that leverage the "lipophilic" properties of the growth-factor-like components in propolis. The critical gelation concentration was determined to be 4 %. The oil-binding capacity of the oleogel improved with increased firmness, reaching optimal values exceeding 98.5 % when the concentration of gelators (beeswax/monoglyceride, 1:1) was at or above 8 %, thereby effectively preventing oil leakage. The crystalline structure of the oleogel was identified as β'-crystals, and increasing the proportion of gelators enhanced the interactions of non-covalent bonds within the three-dimensional network, thereby improving structural stability. Rheological analysis indicated frequency-independent behavior, while an increased gelator proportion reduced subcooling, enhancing crystallization rates and oleogel crystallinity. Additionally, the oleogel exhibited growth factor-like properties by modulating inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, and facilitating collagen deposition. These compelling findings underscore the considerable promise of propolis oleogel as a highly effective wound dressing.
Keywords: Bee product; Functional food; Gelation properties; Inflammatory factor; Proliferation.
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