Valorizing Brazilian Propolis Residue: Comprehensive Characterization for Sustainable Reutilization Strategies.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Food Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Propolis residue, a by-product of ethanolic extraction, is often discarded.
• This residue retains significant nutritional and bioactive potential.
• Comprehensive characterization of Brazilian propolis residue is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first comprehensive characterization of Brazilian propolis residue.
• To identify bioactive compounds, nutrients, minerals, and volatile substances.
• To explore its potential for sustainable utilization and alignment with circular economy principles.

Main Methods:

• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) for compound identification.
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode-Array Detection (HPLC-DAD) for specific compound quantification.
• Nutritional analysis for moisture, protein, and dietary fiber content.
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) for mineral profiling.
• Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) for volatile compound analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified significant concentrations of bioactive compounds including p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, caffeic acid, and artepillin-C.
• Revealed high nutritional value with 12.56% protein and 24.2% dietary fiber.
• Quantified essential minerals, notably potassium (9800 mg/kg), phosphorus (2520 mg/kg), and calcium (2100 mg/kg).
• Detected diverse volatile compounds, predominantly terpenoids like α-pinene and caryophyllene, indicating potential flavor and fragrance applications.

Conclusions:

• Brazilian propolis residue is a valuable source of bioactive compounds, nutrients, and minerals.
• Its composition supports potential applications in food, nutraceutical, fragrance, and flavor industries.
• The findings support the sustainable utilization of propolis residue, aligning with circular economy principles.