Propolis contains resinous substances collected by honey bees from various plant sources and has been used as a traditional folk medicine since ca 300 BC. Nowadays, the use of evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing rapidly and so is the use of propolis in order to treat or support the treatment of various diseases. Much attention has been focused on propolis from Populus sp. (Salicaceae) and Baccharis dracunculifolia (Asteracea), but scientific information about the numerous other types of propolis is still sparse. We gathered six samples of red propolis in five states of Northeastern Brazil. The beehives were located near woody perennial shrubs along the sea and river shores. The bees were observed to collect red resinous exudates on Dalbergia ecastophyllum (L) Taub. (Leguminosae) to make propolis. The flavonoids of propolis and red resinous exudates were investigated using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography. We conclude that the botanical origin of the reddish propolis is D. ecastophyllum. In areas where this source (D. ecastophyllum) was scarce or missing, bees were collecting resinous material from other plants. Propolis, which contained the chemical constituents from the main botanical origin, showed higher antimicrobial activity.

Propolis is a resinous product collected by honey bees. It was also reported that propolis has a wide variety of biological actions, including antimicrobial activity and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and suppressive effects of dioxin toxicity activities. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro cytotoxic activities of green propolis (G12) and red propolis (G13) in human leukemia cells. These cells were incubated with different concentrations of propolis and 48 hours after the IC50 was calculated for each cell. The results showed that the red propolis has cytotoxic effect in vitro higher than green propolis. Red propolis was showed to be cytostatic in K562 cells and caused the same amount of apoptosis as its control Gleevec. In conclusion, these results showed that red propolis is more cytotoxic than the green propolis in a variety of human cell lines of leukemia. Red propolis may contain drugs capable of inhibiting cancer cell growth. Therefore, further isolation of respective chemical ingredients from the red propolis (G13) for identification of the activities is necessary.

IntroductionPropolis (also referred to as bee's glue) possesses a broad spectrum of biological activities, such as anti-hepatotoxic, antitumor, antiviral, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory properties, and is therefore used as a constituent of health foods and functional foods (BURDOCK, 1998).Propolis is collected from the leaf buds of numerous tree species (alder, birch, palm, pine, poplar and willow). Other plant exudates and secretions, such as substances secreted by plants to seal wounds, lipophylic substances on leaves, mucilages, gums, resins, lattices, etc. are also used (BANKOVA; CASTRO;MARCUCCI, 2000). Brazilian Green Propolis is collected from the tender sprouts of Baccharis dracunculifolia, which is commonly found in the States of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná AGUIAR, 2002;IKEGAKI;ALENCAR, 2000). In Brazil, twelve distinct groups of propolis have been classified according to their botanical origin and biological properties. Brazilian Green Propolis is classified as Group 12, which is the most commercialized and largely used in foods and beverages to improve health and prevent diseases (PARK et al., 2005).Propolis is in general composed of 50% resin and balsam, 30% wax, 10% essential and aromatic oils, 5% pollen, and 5% other substances, such as aliphatic acids, esters, aromatic acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, aldehydes, amino acids, ketones, chalcones, dihydrochalcones, terpenoids, vitamins (B1, B2, B6, C and E) and minerals (aluminum, antimony, calcium, cesium, copper, iron, lanthanum, manganese, mercury, nickel, silver, vanadium and zinc) (ALMEIDA; MENEZES, 2002). Resumo Extratos etanólicos e óleos essenciais de própolis verde do sudeste brasileiro e gemas de sua origem botânica (Baccharis dracunculifolia) foram analisados por CLAE-FR (Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência em Fase Reversa), CCDAE (Cromatografia em Camada Delgada de Alta Eficiência) e CG-EM (Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada a Espectrometria de Massas). Os óleos essenciais foram obtidos por hidro destilação.Extratos etanólicos e óleos essenciais de Baccharis dracunculifolia e de própolis mostraram perfis cromatográficos similares entre si. Treze flavonóides foram identificados por CLAE-FR e CCDAE em ambas as amostras. Vinte e três compostos voláteis foram identificados por CG-EM, sendo dezessete deles presentes em ambos os óleos essenciais. Artepillin C foi o flavonóide encontrado em maiores concentrações em ambas as amostras, enquanto nerolidol foi o volátil majoritário em ambos os óleos essenciais. Os compostos majoritários identificados neste trabalho podem ser utilizados como marcadores químicos para classificar de forma prática e identificar origens botânicas de própolis. Palavras-chave: composição de óleos essenciais; Baccharis dracunculifolia; própolis; Alecrim do campo; flavonóides. AbstractEthanolic extracts and essential oils from Green Propolis from southeastern Brazil and leaf buds from its botanical origin Baccharis dracunculifolia were analyzed by Reversed Phase High Performance Liqui...

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