Abstract
In recent years, particular attention has been paid to the natural antioxidants. Bee products, especially propolis, are characterized by multifunctional (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and food preservative) effects and can be used for the development of functional food or food preservatives. Propolis extracts that are commonly produced are ethanolic; therefore, to certain groups of consumers, for example, children and alcohol sensitive group, their applicability is limited. The aim of this study was to develop alternative propolis from aqueous-polyethylenglycolic propolis extract (AQUA-PEG) and compare the chemical composition as well as antioxidant (radical-scavenging and reduction properties) activities to those of ethanolic propolis extract (EEP). Polyethylene glycol is quite a good solvent, which can be successfully used for the preparation of NEP. The total quantity of phenolic compounds identified in AQUA-PEG (400.36 µg/mL), prepared according to our technology, is very similar to that of EEP (433.53 µg/mL), whereas the amount of phenolic acids was greater by 1.31-fold in AQUA-PEG and of flavonoids was greater by 2.38-fold in EEP. The antioxidant activity depends on the method used: by applying the ABTS and CUPRAC methods, both extracts demonstrate similar antioxidant (antiradical and reducing) activity, whereas in the case of the DPPH and FRAP method, significantly higher antioxidant activity was detected in EEP. This should be taken by researchers into account especially when interpreting the results and drawing conclusions about the antioxidant activity of propolis extracts. On the basis of the results, AQUA-PEG, prepared by the developed technology, can be used as an alternative form to ethanolic propolis extract, since it contains a large quantity of antioxidants, namely, flavonoids and phenolic acids. We believe that nonethanolic propolis extract has the prospect of being applied for the development of functional foods in order to alleviate certain symptoms of oxidative stress or for the prevention of some oxidative-stress-related diseases.
Highlights
Consumers, who care about their health, choose food products that provide the body with the necessary nutrients and help protect against illnesses
Efforts are being made to find various technologies to improve the extraction of active compounds of propolis in a nonethanolic solvent. e aim of this research was to prepare nonethanolic propolis extract by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a solvent and to compare the qualitative and quantitative composition and antioxidant activity of AQUA-PEG and EEP
The results of the present study show that the total quantity of phenolic compounds in both EEP and AQUA-PEG is similar but the antioxidant activity differs significantly, which depends on the method used for the antioxidant-related research
Summary
Consumers, who care about their health, choose food products that provide the body with the necessary nutrients and help protect against illnesses. Food may be enriched with various components, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. Such food products differ from conventional ones in their biological value and are meant to satisfy specific bodily functions. Such functional food has a positive effect on one or more. Especially propolis, are characterized by multifunctional (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral) effects and can become a useful raw material for the development and enrichment of such products. Is is especially relevant in the food industry when it comes to searching for natural preservatives. Most components of propolis are natural constituents of food products and are recognized as safe substances. Most components of propolis are natural constituents of food products and are recognized as safe substances. e problem remains the solubility of propolis active substances as they are mainly soluble in ethanol
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