This review article discusses recent advances in the chemistry and plant origin of propolis, a sticky, dark-colored material collected by bees from various plants. Propolis is used by bees for nest construction and defense, and it has been valued by humans for its biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The article highlights new findings on propolis constituents published since 1995, focusing on the chemical composition and biological activities of these components. It also reviews the plant sources of propolis, particularly in temperate and tropical regions, and discusses the importance of identifying these sources for standardizing propolis based on its active principles. The review emphasizes the variability in propolis composition due to different plant sources and the need for systematic research to determine the chemical composition and biological activities of propolis from various geographic regions. The article concludes by outlining the potential for formulating local propolis standards based on plant origin and the importance of combining chemical and biological tests for quality control.This review article discusses recent advances in the chemistry and plant origin of propolis, a sticky, dark-colored material collected by bees from various plants. Propolis is used by bees for nest construction and defense, and it has been valued by humans for its biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The article highlights new findings on propolis constituents published since 1995, focusing on the chemical composition and biological activities of these components. It also reviews the plant sources of propolis, particularly in temperate and tropical regions, and discusses the importance of identifying these sources for standardizing propolis based on its active principles. The review emphasizes the variability in propolis composition due to different plant sources and the need for systematic research to determine the chemical composition and biological activities of propolis from various geographic regions. The article concludes by outlining the potential for formulating local propolis standards based on plant origin and the importance of combining chemical and biological tests for quality control.