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Published on: January 7, 2019
Brazilian red propolis--chemical composition and botanical origin
Andreas Daugsch1, Cleber S Moraes, Patricia Fort
1Department of Food Science, College of Food Engineering, State University of Campinas, PO Box 6177, Campinas, SP, Brazil. Tel.: +55-19-3521-2157; ykpark@fea.unicamp.br.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : Ecam
|October 29, 2008
Summary
Red propolis from Northeastern Brazil originates from Dalbergia ecastophyllum. Propolis with higher concentrations of its primary botanical source exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity, supporting its medicinal use.
Area of Science:
- Ethnobotany
- Phytochemistry
- Apitherapy
Background:
- Propolis, a resinous bee product, has a long history in traditional medicine.
- Its use in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is growing, yet scientific data on diverse propolis types remain limited.
- Research often focuses on Populus sp. and Baccharis dracunculifolia, overlooking other sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the botanical origin of red propolis from Northeastern Brazil.
- To investigate the chemical constituents, specifically flavonoids, of red propolis and its exudates.
- To correlate botanical origin with antimicrobial activity.
Main Methods:
- Collection of six red propolis samples from five Northeastern Brazilian states.
- Observation of bee foraging behavior, noting resin collection from Dalbergia ecastophyllum.
- Analysis of flavonoids using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (RP-TLC).
Main Results:
- The primary botanical origin of the studied red propolis was confirmed as Dalbergia ecastophyllum (Leguminosae).
- Bees utilized alternative plant sources when D. ecastophyllum was scarce.
- Propolis samples derived predominantly from D. ecastophyllum demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity.
Conclusions:
- Dalbergia ecastophyllum is the main botanical source of red propolis in the studied region.
- The chemical profile and antimicrobial efficacy of propolis are directly linked to its primary botanical origin.
- Further research into diverse propolis types can expand evidence-based CAM applications.
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