Abstract
Stingless bees produce geopropolis, which is popularly described for its medicinal properties, but for which few scientific studies have demonstrated pharmacological effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of the geopropolis of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides and to evaluate its antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. The composition of the hydroethanolic extract of geopropolis (HEG) included di- and trigalloyl and phenylpropanyl heteroside derivatives, flavanones, diterpenes, and triterpenes. HEG showed antioxidant action via the direct capture of free radicals and by inhibiting the levels of oxidative hemolysis and malondialdehyde in human erythrocytes under oxidative stress. HEG also reduced the frequency of gene conversion and the number of mutant colonies of S. cerevisiae. The anti-inflammatory action of HEG was demonstrated by the inhibition of hyaluronidase enzyme activity. In addition, HEG induced cell death in all evaluated gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and yeasts, including clinical isolates with antimicrobial drug resistance. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of M. q. anthidioides geopropolis for the prevention and treatment of various diseases related to oxidative stress, mutagenesis, inflammatory processes, and microbial infections.
Highlights
Geopropolis is produced by stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, and Meliponinae) [1] from a mixture of wax, pollen, and the mandibular secretions of bees together with plant resins and the addition of soil, which characterizes and differentiates this material [2, 3]
The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition of the hydroethanolic extract of the geopropolis produced by the stingless bee M. q. anthidioides, found in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and to examine its antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities
The literature contains few scientific studies related to the chemical composition and pharmacological properties of geopropolis, an apicultural product with great pharmacological potential
Summary
Geopropolis is produced by stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, and Meliponinae) [1] from a mixture of wax, pollen, and the mandibular secretions of bees together with plant resins and the addition of soil, which characterizes and differentiates this material [2, 3]. Analyses of the chemical compositions of geopropolis samples produced by different species of bees have demonstrated the complexity of this natural product, which contains phenolic compounds such as benzophenones [5], phenolic acids, hydrolysable tannins, and flavonoids [1, 6, 7], in addition to terpenes and long-chain fatty acids [8, 9]. Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier, 1836, popularly known as mandaçaia, is found in much of the Brazilian territory and is subdivided into two subspecies, M. quadrifasciata quadrifasciata and M. quadrifasciata anthidioides [19, 20], which are well described in the literature with respect to development and genetic diversity [19, 21,22,23]. Studies examining the chemical composition and therapeutic properties of the natural products produced by these subspecies, such as honey, propolis, and geopropolis, remain scarce
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