Propolis is commercialized in Chile as an antimicrobial agent. It is obtained mainly from central and southern Chile, but is used for the same purposes regardless of its origin. To compare the antimicrobial effect, the total phenolic (TP), the total flavonoid (TF) content and the phenolic composition, 19 samples were collected in the main production centers in the Región del Maule, Chile. Samples were extracted with MeOH and assessed for antimicrobial activity against Gram (+) and Gram (−) bacteria. TP and TF content, antioxidant activity by the DPPH, FRAP and TEAC methods were also determined. Sample composition was assessed by HPLD-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. Differential compounds in the samples were isolated and characterized. The antimicrobial effect of the OPEN ACCESSMolecules 2015, 20 18145 samples showed MICs ranging from 31.5 to > 1000 µg/mL. Propolis from the central valley was more effective as antibacterial than those from the coastal area or Andean slopes. The samples considered of interest (MIC ≤ 62.5 µg/mL) showed effect on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., Yersinia enterocolitica and Salmonella enteritidis. Two new diarylheptanoids, a diterpene, the flavonoids pinocembrin and chrysin were isolated and elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric means. Some 29 compounds were dereplicated by HPLC-MS and tentatively identified, including nine flavones/flavonol derivatives, one flavanone, eight dihydroflavonols and nine phenyl-propanoids. Propolis from the Región del Maule showed large variation in antimicrobial effect, antioxidant activity and composition. So far the presence of diarylheptanoids in samples from the coastal area of central Chile can be considered as a marker of a new type of propolis.

High chemical diversity and differential antioxidant effects were found in Bolivian propolis. Our results provide additional evidence on the chemical composition and bioactivity of South American propolis.

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Propolis is used in Bolivia as an antimicrobial agent. Bolivian propolis from the main production areas was assessed for antibacterial and leishmanicidal effect and the results were compared with the propolis chemical composition. The active antibacterial propolis samples were phenolic-rich while those containing mainly triterpenes were devoid of activity or weakly active. A similar picture was obtained for the effect on Leishmania, with better effect for the phenolic-rich samples. As propolis is used for the same purposes regardless of the production area and composition, our findings indicate the need for the standardization of this natural product as antimicrobial.

A bioassay screening against protozoa parasites of several Tacana medicinal plants gave Hyptis brevipes (Id'ene eidhue), traditionally used as decoction for intestinal parasites, as the most active extract. In this work we did a bioguided isolation of active constituents found in leaves. Structure elucidation was carried out by NMR spectroscopy and MS spectrometry analyses. Active constituents showed differentiated activity towards Giardia lamblia, Trypanosoma cruzi, several Leishmania strains, Plasmodium falciparum and cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. Brevipolide H (1) was the less cytotoxic and best antiparasitic, while the catechol derivative (2) the most active and cytotoxic.