Abstract
Total phenolic contents, antioxidant activity and chemical composition of propolis samples from three localities of Minas Gerais state (southeast Brazil) were determined. Total phenolic contents were determined by the Folin–Ciocalteau method, antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, using BHT as reference, and chemical composition was analyzed by GC/MS. Propolis from Itapecerica and Paula Cândido municipalities were found to have high phenolic contents and pronounced antioxidant activity. From these extracts, 40 substances were identified, among them were simple phenylpropanoids, prenylated phenylpropanoids, sesqui- and diterpenoids. Quantitatively, the main constituent of both samples was allyl-3-prenylcinnamic acid. A sample from Virginópolis municipality had no detectable phenolic substances and contained mainly triterpenoids, the main constituents being α- and β-amyrins. Methanolic extracts from Itapecerica and Paula Cândido exhibited pronounced scavenging activity towards DPPH, indistinguishable from BHT activity. However, extracts from Virginópolis sample exhibited no antioxidant activity. Total phenolic substances, GC/MS analyses and antioxidant activity of samples from Itapecerica collected monthly over a period of 1 year revealed considerable variation. No correlation was observed between antioxidant activity and either total phenolic contents or contents of artepillin C and other phenolic substances, as assayed by CG/MS analysis.
Highlights
Propolis is currently a popular alternative medicine in various parts of the world, including Japan and the European Union
A total of 40 compounds, involving benzoic and cinnamic acid derivatives, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes were found in DME/It, DME/Paula Candido (PC) and Virginopolis DME/Vi (Table 1), in addition to minor wax constituents
Artepillin C (4-hydroxy-3,5-diprenylcinnamic acid) [12], usually a major compound in alecrim propolis and so far detected only in Brazilian propolis, was found in the proportion of 8.7% in DME/It and of 14.9% in DME/PC, being second to allyl-3-prenylcinnamate [10] in both DME/It (29.5%) and DME/PC (23.1%) (Table 1). This compound was reported in alecrim propolis by Negri et al [8]
Summary
Propolis is currently a popular alternative medicine in various parts of the world, including Japan and the European Union. It is a complex mixture of substances collected by honeybees from buds or exudates of plants (resin), beeswax and other substances, such as pollen and sugars. Iranian propolis has been shown to contain aromatic acids (benzoic and benzenepropanoic), esters of caffeic and ß 2008 The Author(s).
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