The presence of Fabaceae in the pollen profile of propolis produced in northeastern Brazil

Luciano Oliveira Avelino,Francisco De Assis Ribeiro Dos Santos

doi:10.1590/0102-33062018abb0077

Luciano Oliveira Avelino, Francisco De Assis Ribeiro Dos Santos

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-33062018abb0077

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Propolis is a resin-like substance composed mainly of resin, wax, essential oils, pollen grains and specific plant parts collected by the honeybee Apis mellifera, which mixes them with fluids they secrete. The components and chemical properties of propolis vary among regions. Therefore, in order assess variation in the botanical composition of propolis, 26 samples of propolis (brown, red, and green) produced throughout northeastern Brazil were analyzed by acetolysis specifically adapted for propolis. In total, 196 pollen types were recorded, representing 123 genera and 47 families, with types of Fabaceae and Rubiaceae being present in 100 % of the samples. Fabaceae was the richest group with 49 pollen types, followed by Malvaceae (10 types), particularly related to the high frequencies of Mimosa pudica (84.62 %), Alternanthera, Borreria verticillata, and Myrcia (80.77 %). Remarkably, 34 % of the pollen types with frequencies above 50 % belonged to Fabaceae, even though this family has been traditionally regarded as less important with regard to propolis production, given that most of its included taxa are classified as polliniferous or nectariferous. Similarity analyses revealed clusters of propolis samples that share pollen types associated with plants having apiculture potential.

Highlights

Pollen analysis is used to establish the botanical origin of propolis
Given the significant presence of the family Fabaceae in the flora of northeastern Brazil, throughout the semiarid region (Queiroz 1999), and the abundance of pollen types associated with this family in propolis samples, the goal of the present study was the analyze the pollen grains in propolis samples produced in northeastern Brazil, with particular emphasis on the family Fabaceae, which includes several species useful to indicate vegetation
The pollen grains of species from this family played a major role in the pollen spectrum of the analyzed propolis, ranging from 4% in the sample from João Pessoa — sample 2 (JOP2) — to 78 % in the sample from Delmiro Gouveia (DEG) (Fig. 2)

Summary

Introduction

Pollen analysis is used to establish the botanical origin of propolis. In general, propolis is composed of 50-60 % resins and balsams, 30-40 % wax, 5-10 % essential oils, and 5 % pollen grains, along with microelements such as aluminum, calcium, strontium, iron, copper, manganese, and small amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and E (Matsuno 1995; Pietta et al 2002; Funari & Ferro 2006).The presence of pollen grains in propolis is usually related to their transportation via wind and by their adherence to vegetal resins that represent the major component of propolis. Pollen analysis is used to establish the botanical origin of propolis. Propolis is composed of 50-60 % resins and balsams, 30-40 % wax, 5-10 % essential oils, and 5 % pollen grains, along with microelements such as aluminum, calcium, strontium, iron, copper, manganese, and small amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and E (Matsuno 1995; Pietta et al 2002; Funari & Ferro 2006). The identification of the pollen grains in propolis is regarded as an indirect indicator of both its botanical and geographic origin (Borges et al 2006). Brazil is the third largest producer of propolis worldwide, reaching up to 150 tons/year. The demand for propolis in the international market has been increasing annually as a result of its popularization as a natural medicine by several studies that have attributed to it antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antiulcer properties (Braga 2009)

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