Commercial Propolis Extract Research Articles

Commercial propolis extracts from Apis mellifera, Scaptotrigona bipunctata and Melipona quadrifasciata: quality control, antioxidant and antiglycemic potential

Quality control of propolis plays a pivotal role in ensuring the appropriate concentrations of active compounds, limiting unwanted substances, verifying authenticity, and adhering to regulatory standards. This study aimed to assess the identity and quality standards, the individual phenolic composition (LC-ESI-MS/MS), and the antioxidant and antiglycemic potential of commercial propolis extracts (CPEs) from Apis mellifera, Scaptotrigona bipunctata, and Melipona quadrifasciata bees. CPEs met wax content and oxidation activity criteria, surpassing minimum thresholds for total phenolic content (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC), although stingless bee CPE did not test positive for 10% lead acetate. CPEs exhibited antioxidant and potential antiglycemic activities. Epicatechin among the thirty-three identified phenolics, showed significant correlation with TPC, DPPH, ABTS, and EC50 values of α-amylase enzyme. These promising attributes underscore the potential health benefits of commercial propolis extracts from Apis mellifera and stingless bees for further medicinal and nutritional applications.

Effects of short- and long-term use of propolis extracts on liver and kidney in rats.

Propolis is widely used as a supplementary food product for its health benefits. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of commercial propolis extracts on the liver and kidney. Propolis extracts (250 mg/kgbw/day) were administered orally to adult male Wistar albino rats in solvents of ethanol, propylene glycol, water, and olive oil. Liver enzyme levels were determined biochemically in blood samples, and histopathological examinations were performed on the liver. Damage rate in both kidney tissue in the propolis-ethanol extract group increased significantly compared with the other groups after 30 and 90 days of application (p < .05). According to the results, ethanol, used as a common solvent in propolis products, may adversely affect the liver in long-term use. The data indicate that propolis-olive oil extract may be an essential alternative due to its effective and reliable properties.

Comparative Evaluation of Two Commercial Propolis Extracts as Plant Defense Activator and Antimicrobial Agent Against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) strain DC3000

Propolis is a natural bee product that protects the beehives from internal and external factors. It is a natural-complex compound with a wide potential use as an antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory effect. The role of propolis as a plant protection agent and an alternative to pesticides is an unexplored area. Here, two different commercially available propolis extracts were evaluated for antibacterial effects on Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) strain DC3000. Also, the activities of defense response genes WRKY70 and CaBP22 in Arabidopsis thaliana under propolis application were compared. According to the results, each propolis extract and dose had a different effect on gene expressions as well as antibacterial activity. One of the commercial brands had a significant effect at all doses while another brand’s propolis extract had its activity at only 1% concentration. Propolis reduced bacterial growth up to 93% with a 2% concentration. For the first time, propolis is also evaluated for its capacity as a plant defense activator agent and it induced WRKY70 and CaBP22 gene expression. The differences in gene expression and bacterial growth inhibition levels suggest the importance of the origins of propolis, such as plant species and regions it collected. While preliminary in nature, these results suggest a significant potential of propolis in plant protection in commercial and organic agriculture.

Comparative Study of Some Commercial Propolis Extract with New Prepared Ethanolic Propolis Extract

Comparative Study of Some Commercial Propolis Extract with New Prepared Ethanolic Propolis Extract

Liquidambar styraciflua L.: A new potential source for therapeutic uses

Liquidambar styraciflua L., ALTINGIACEAE, popularly known as sweet gum or alligator tree, is an aromatic tree with a natural distribution in North America and acclimated in Brazil. In traditional medicine, L. styraciflua L is used for the treatment of stomach disorders, wounds, and coughs. The present study was designed to investigate the biological potential and chemical profile of extracts obtained from aerial parts of L. styraciflua L. The chemical profile was established using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and the extracts were tested for total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins using spectrophotometric assays. The anti-inflammatory activity of L. styraciflua L was tested using an inhibition of hyaluronidase enzyme assay, and cytotoxic activities were tested by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2 yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The synergy between the plant extracts with ciprofloxacin and tetracycline was studied by the checkerboard assay method against eight bacterial strains.The phytochemical investigation showed that the leaves and stem are rich in phenolics compounds (1419.34–1614.02 mg GAE/g, 875.21-1557.57 mg GAE/g, respectively), mainly flavonoids and hydrolyzable tannins. The samples of the stem exhibited the best anti-inflammatory activity. The butanol fraction of the stem was better than the commercial propolis extract. The hydroalcoholic extract of the stem and the propolis did not exhibit significant differences (p < 0.05) at any of the concentrations tested. A synergistic interaction was observed against the Gram-positive bacterial Enterococcus faecalis (hydroalcoholic extract of leaves and tetracycline) and Staphylococcus aureus (hydroalcoholic extract of stem and tetracycline). The IC50 values obtained for the extracts indicate the absence of toxicity and moderate cytotoxic for the hydroalcoholic extract of the stem. On the basis of our findings, L. styaciflua may be considered as a potential therapeutic source with high anti-inflammatory activity and synergistic interactions with antibiotics against bacteria.

Electro-acupuncture for cancer-related cognitive impairment: a single group, before-after, feasibility study

Liquidambar styraciflua L., ALTINGIACEAE, popularly known as sweet gum or alligator tree, is an aromatic tree with a natural distribution in North America and acclimated in Brazil. In traditional medicine, L. styraciflua L is used for the treatment of stomach disorders, wounds, and coughs. The present study was designed to investigate the biological potential and chemical profile of extracts obtained from aerial parts of L. styraciflua L. The chemical profile was established using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and the extracts were tested for total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins using spectrophotometric assays. The anti-inflammatory activity of L. styraciflua L was tested using an inhibition of hyaluronidase enzyme assay, and cytotoxic activities were tested by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2 yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The synergy between the plant extracts with ciprofloxacin and tetracycline was studied by the checkerboard assay method against eight bacterial strains.The phytochemical investigation showed that the leaves and stem are rich in phenolics compounds (1419.34–1614.02 mg GAE/g, 875.21-1557.57 mg GAE/g, respectively), mainly flavonoids and hydrolyzable tannins. The samples of the stem exhibited the best anti-inflammatory activity. The butanol fraction of the stem was better than the commercial propolis extract. The hydroalcoholic extract of the stem and the propolis did not exhibit significant differences (p < 0.05) at any of the concentrations tested. A synergistic interaction was observed against the Gram-positive bacterial Enterococcus faecalis (hydroalcoholic extract of leaves and tetracycline) and Staphylococcus aureus (hydroalcoholic extract of stem and tetracycline). The IC50 values obtained for the extracts indicate the absence of toxicity and moderate cytotoxic for the hydroalcoholic extract of the stem. On the basis of our findings, L. styaciflua may be considered as a potential therapeutic source with high anti-inflammatory activity and synergistic interactions with antibiotics against bacteria.

Phytochemical screening, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of some commercial extract of propolis

This study investigated the chemical composition, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity of commercial propolis extracts produced in the Sergipe and Alagoas States of Brazil as potential bioproducts for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Four samples were analyzed, three brown propolis extracts and one red propolis extract, and were characterized through phytochemical screening, chemical, chromatographic profile and antibacterial activity. Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of triterpenoids and phenolic compound in propolis extracts. Propolis extracts showed total phenolic content between 9 and 15% and total flavonoids >2%. Propolis extracts showed excellent antioxidant activity with inhibition of the Free radical DPPH˙ between 97 and 60%, which confirm the results obtained in total phenolics, total flavonoids content and antibacterial activity. The chromatographic profile showed differences for brown propolis samples and quite different from the red propolis extract, which present flavonoids as isoflavonoids, pterocarpans, chalcones and guttiferones. Commercial propolis extract (propolis extract C and propolis extract D) showed excellent activity for Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and moderate activity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. The chemical characterization of propolis extracts is fundamental in the process of standardization and monitoring of the chemical composition susceptible to geographic and seasonal variation. These results point to new possibilities of use as bio-preservative of processed foods as well as in the development of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals products from propolis extract C and D in its formulation actuate on the inhibition of some pathogenic microorganisms strains.

A porphyrin-based fluorescence method for zinc determination in commercial propolis extracts without sample pretreatment.

The quantification of zinc in over-the-counter drugs as commercial propolis extracts by molecular fluorescence technique using meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (H2 TCPP4 ) was developed for the first time. The calibration curve is linear from 6.60 to 100nmol L-1 of Zn2+ . The detection and quantification limits were 6.22nmol L-1 and 19.0nmol L-1 , respectively. The reproducibility and repeatability calculated as the percentage variation of slopes of seven calibration curves were 6.75% and 4.61%, respectively. Commercial propolis extract samples from four Brazilian states were analyzed and the results (0.329-0.797mg/100mL) obtained with this method are in good agreement with that obtained with the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) technique. The method is simple, fast, of low cost and allows the analysis of the samples without pretreatment. Moreover the major advantage is that Zn-porphyrin complex presents fluorescent characteristic promoting the selectivity and sensitivity of the method.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of commercial propolis extract in beef patties.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of propolis extract (PE) to reduce lipid oxidation and microbial growth on beef patties during refrigerated storage. Beef patties were manufactured by incorporating PE in 4 different treatments: (1) Control (no PE addition); (2) commercial propolis 1 (2% w/w; CP1); (3) commercial propolis 2 (2% w/w; CP2); and (4) noncommercial propolis (2% w/w; NCP). Raw patties were wrapped with polyvinyl chloride and stored at 2 °C for 8 d. Total phenolic content (TPC), free-radical scavenging activity (FRS), and polyphenolic content of the PE were evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CnDs), metmyoglobin (MetMb%), pH variation, and color (L*, a*, b*, C*, and h*), and microbial growth (mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria) of patty samples were measured. NCP treatment demonstrated the highest FRS (64.8% at 100 μg/mL), which correlated with TPC and the presence of polyphenolic compounds. Lipid oxidation (78.54%, TBARS; 45.53%, CnD; 58.57%, MetMb) and microbial mesophilic and psychrotrophic growth (19.75 and 27.03%, respectively) values were reduced by NCP treatment in refrigerated samples after 8 d. These results indicate that PE has great potential as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial additive to extend the shelf life of beef patties.

Discrimination Between Producing Regions of Brazilian Propolis by UV-VIS Spectroscopy and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis

Propolis – in the form of alcoholic extract – is one of the most produced and commercialized bee products in the world due to its many pharmacological properties hence several chemical compositions which vary according to their producing regions, botanical source, type of bee, climate amongst other factors are there. In this manner, this study has the objective of finding a relation among the Brazilian commercial propolis extracts to each of their respective producing regions by applying a supervised classification method as the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Thusly, it was possible to discriminate between the samples from the South and Southeast regions of the country with 100% accuracy in the prediction of new samples from both regions studied. In this sense, the proposed methodology can be used to perform a rapid distinction between geographical origins of the propolis extracts due to its fast capability to do so, as well as, its low cost, in order to attain a superior quality control of these products.

Biologically Active Compounds with Antitumor Activity in Propolis Extracts from Different Geographic Regions

ABSTRACTSeven propolis samples (S1—S7) from different regions of Bulgaria and eight commercial products of propolis extracts (C8—C15) from various European countries were studied. Concentrations of five antitumor compounds: CAPE, quercetin, rutin, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid, were determined and a comparison between the propolis extracts from different regions was made. The results showed that among samples S1—S7, two were distinctive with their high concentrations of CAPE and quercetin: S1 (Asenovgrad region)—9843.6 μg/mL and 2575.6 μg/mL, respectively, and S7 (Smolyan region)—10270.2 μg/mL and 2575.6 μg/mL, respectively. Sample S4 (Plovdiv region) showed significant amounts of p-coumaric acid (1638.2 μg/mL) and ferulic acid (1186.5 μg/mL). Sample C11 from the commercial propolis extract products (Bulgaria) was distinctive with its high concentrations of CAPE (5802.3 μg/mL), p-coumaric acid (2955.2 μg/mL) and ferulic acid (1081.2 μg/mL). Samples C15 (Italy) and C8 (Austria) also contained significant amounts of CAPE, quercetin, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid. The overall results showed high content variability of the five biologically active substances analyzed. Nevertheless, each sample contained significant amounts of at least four of the biologically active compounds tested, which confirms that propolis remains a valuable source of antitumor compounds.

Antioxidant activity of propolis extracts from Serbia: A polarographic approach

Antioxidant activity (AO) of commercial propolis extracts (PEs), available on Serbian market, was determined by direct current (DC) polarography. Polarographic anodic current of 5.0mmolL−1 alkaline solution of H2O2 was recorded at potentials of mercury dissolution. Decrease of the current was plotted against the volume of gradually added PEs. The volume of PE causing 20% current decrease was determined from the linear part of the plot. Antioxidant activity was expressed in H2O2 equivalent (HPEq), representing the volume of PE that corresponds to 1.0mmolL−1 H2O2 decrease. Resulting HPEq ranged between 1.71±0.11 and 8.00±0.18μL. Range of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was from 0.093±0.004% to 0.346±0.006%. Total phenolic content (TCP) of PE with superior AO activity was 5.31±0.05%g GAE, while the extract with the lowest activity contained 1.45±0.02%g GAE. Antioxidant activity, determined by polarographic method, was correlated with DPPH scavenging activity (R2=0.991) and TCP (R2=0.985). Validity of obtained results was further confirmed using ANOVA and post hoc Tukey HSD test.

Antimicrobial activity of two brazilian commercial propolis extracts

The antimicrobial activity of propolis extracts is well documented, but little is known about the antimicrobial properties of commercial products containing propolis, since these vary according to the geographical region in which the propolis is obtained. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of two samples of commercial propolis on 26 species of microorganisms obtained from ATCC and some wild strains: Gram-positive cocci and bacilli, and Gram-negative rods and yeasts. The tested products were two samples of Brazilian commercial propolis from Apis Flora™: 11.0% ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and Propomax™ 11.0% extract of propolis without alcohol (EP). Antimicrobial activity was determined by the agar diffusion technique, well method. MIC was determined for Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus mutans using the method of broth dilution with the propolis extract in serial concentrations. EEP and EP showed antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria and yeasts, having a more pronounced action against Gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans ATCC 10231, and a less evident activity against Gram-negative and Candida albicans FT2010. For S. mutans, the EEP MIC ranged from 8.8 to 4.4 mL of propolis, and the EP MIC, from 4.4 to <1.1 mL. For Staphylococcus sp., the MIC of both extracts was <1.1.