Phytochemical and Bioactivity of Propolis Extracts Produced by Stingless Bee Heterotrigona itama from Two Cultivation Locations

Abstract

Propolis produced by the stingless bee is one of the non-timber forest products that currently has great potential to be developed. This research aimed to analyze the phytochemical present in propolis and to investigate the bioactivities of Heterotrigona itama propolis. Propolis samples were collected from cultivation locations in the Faculty of Forestry at Mulawarman University and cultivation locations at Mangkurawang Sub District at Kutai Kartanegara. Propolis was extracted with ethanol and methanol for a mixture of propolis and olive oil. Phytochemical analysis was carried out qualitatively and quantitatively. Antioxidant activity was performed using the radical scavenging assay against DPPH. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar-well diffusion method. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, carbohydrates, and coumarins. The results showed that the highest antioxidant activity was found in propolis ethanol extract from Mangkurawang with an IC50 value of 112.53 μg/ml, followed by ethanol extract from Fahutan with an IC50 of 165.382 μg/ml. Furthermore, the ethanol extract from Mangkurawang showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Cutibacterium acnes, and Candida albicans. This present study displayed the potential uses of propolis as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent.