No abstract

The Brazilian red propolis (BRP) constitutes an important commercial asset for northeast Brazilian beekeepers. The role of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. (Fabaceae) as the main botanical source of this propolis has been previously confirmed. However, in addition to isoflavonoids and other phenolics, which are present in the resin of D. ecastaphyllum, samples of BRP are reported to contain substantial amounts of polyprenylated benzophenones, whose botanical source was unknown. Therefore, field surveys, phytochemical and chromatographic analyses were undertaken to confirm the botanical sources of the red propolis produced in apiaries located in Canavieiras, Bahia, Brazil. The results confirmed D. ecastaphyllum as the botanical source of liquiritigenin (1), isoliquiritigenin (2), formononetin (3), vestitol (4), neovestitol (5), medicarpin (6), and 7-O-neovestitol (7), while Symphonia globulifera L.f. (Clusiaceae) is herein reported for the first time as the botanical source of polyprenylated benzophenones, mainly guttiferone E (8) and oblongifolin B (9), as well as the triterpenoids β-amyrin (10) and glutinol (11). The chemotaxonomic and economic significance of the occurrence of polyprenylated benzophenones in red propolis is discussed.

No abstract

Introduction Propolis is widely used in folk medicine, and many factors can affect its chemical composition, including abiotic factors that can influence plants and bees. Therefore, analytical methods are powerful techniques in the quality control of such products. Objective Develop and validate an analytical method for quantifying volatile compounds in Brazilian brown propolis, and evaluate its biological activities. Methods A gas chromatography flame ionisation detector (GC‐FID) analytical method was validated, attending the parameters of international validation guidelines as ANVISA 2017 and ICH 2005, for quantification of compounds present in volatile oils from propolis. Evaluation of cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and leishmanicidal activities of the oil. Results The compounds 1,8‐cineole, terpinen‐4‐ol, α‐copaene, β‐caryophyllene, γ‐muurolene, nerolidol, spathulenol, and γ‐palmitolactone were isolated from the volatile fraction of a Brazilian brown propolis and used in the method validation. All the validation parameters of the method were satisfactory. The volatile fraction displayed a significant leishmanicidal activity, with half maximal inhibition concentration (IC50) = 21.3 μg/mL against amastigote forms and IC50 = 25.1 μg/mL against promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. The oil also displayed an antibacterial effect by inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus at 25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL, respectively, but it was not cytotoxic against AGP‐01, He‐La and CHO‐K1cell lines, with IC50 > 100 μg/mL. Conclusion The GC‐FID method can be a useful tool in the quality control of propolis material. The southeast brown propolis showed a high chemical complexity in its volatile fraction, which displayed leishmanicidal activity and bactericidal activity.