Determination and Quantification of Gallic Acid in Raw Propolis by High-performance Liquid Chromatography–Diode Array Detector in Burundi

Abstract

Background: Honey, pollen, and propolis are among the products that bees process and derive from plants and flowers. Propolis is a resinous material that bees gather from the buds and bark of some trees and small plants. Propolis from temperate climates mainly contains phenolic compounds, in contrast with propolis from tropical climates, which mainly contains terpenes. This study aimed to determine, characterise, and quantify the phenolic content of raw propolis from Burundi. Methods: In this study, a total of 6 samples were collected from the provinces of Rumonge, Cibitoke, and Ruyigi in Burundi. Fifteen phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, ferulic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, isoferulic acid, cinnamic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, gallic acid, apigenin, chrysin, galangin, quercetin, kaempherol, rutin trihydrate, naringenin, and pinocembrin) were used as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) standards for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the propolis samples. Results: Among the 15 phenolic compounds checked, only 1 – gallic acid – was detected at a measurable level using an HPLC-diode array detector system. Conclusion: In addition to terpenes, propolis found in sub-Saharan Africa may contain phenolic compounds. Further advanced investigation of sub-Saharan African propolis is required for more detailed characterisation.