Determination of Botanical Origin of Propolis from Monte Region of Argentina by Histological and Chemical Methods

Abstract

Propolis production by honey bees is the result of a selective harvest of exudates from plants in the neighborhood of the hive. This product is used in Argentina as a food supplement and alternative medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the botanical origin of propolis from the arid regions of Monte of Argentina using rapid histochemical techniques and by comparison of TLC and HPLC-DAD chromatographic profiles with extract profiles obtained from Zuccagnia punctata, Larrea divaricata and Larrea cuneifolia, plant species that grow in the study area as a natural community named "jarillal". Microscopical analysis revealed the presence of several Z. punctata structures, such as multicellular trichomes, leaflets, stems and young leaves. Remarkable was the richness of the propolis in two bioactive chalcones, also present in Z. punctata resin; these compounds can be regarded as possible markers for propolis identification and justify its use as a dietary supplement, functional food and medicinal product. This study indicates that the source of resin used by honey bees to produce propolis in the Monte region of Argentina is only Z. punctata, a native shrub widespread in this phytogeographical region, while other more abundant species (L. divaricata and L. cuneifolia) in the region were not found, indicating that this propolis could be defined as a mono-resin, type-Zuccagnia.

Zuccagnia‐type Propolis from Argentina: A potential functional ingredient in food to pathologies associated to metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress

“…The quality of propolis and its botanical origin were determined by microscopic analyses to botanical identification of fragments of leaves or other debris left (Salas, Mercado, Zampini, Ponessa, and Isla , 2016). In the present study, according to microscopical analyses, propolis samples from Catamarca, Argentina showed the presence of Z. punctata, Larrea sp., and nonidentified species in different ratios (Table 1).…”

“…Predominant chemical components of the propolis and Z. punctata extracts were (1) 2´,4´‐dihydroxychalcone and (2) 2´,4´‐dihydroxy‐3´‐methoxychalcone (Figure 8). Both compounds were previously considered as chemical markers to analyzed Zuccagnia type propolis samples (Salas, Mercado, Zampini, Ponessa, & Isla, 2016).…”

“…For botanical analysis, samples of each raw propolis (0.5 g) were processed according to Salas, Mercado, Zampini, Ponessa, and Isla (2016). Botanical identification was made by comparing observed structures with both plant materials of Z. punctata , L. divaricata , and L. cuneifolia collected at the site where the beehives were located and with relevant literature (Álvarez et al., 2012; Lersten & Curtis, 1996; Mercado et al., 2013, 2018; Moreno et al., 2015).…”

“…Larrea divaricata and exotic Populus species are source of propolis from the Andean region (Isla et al., 2009; Kumazawa, Ahn, Fujimoto, & Kato, 2010). Zuccagnia punctata has been assigned as the main botanical constituent of the propolis from semiarid region of Tucumán, which has been characterized by the presence of chalcones (2´,4´‐dihydroxy‐3´‐methoxychalcone, 2´,4´‐dihydroxychalcone) as chemical markers (Salas, Alberto, Zampini, Cuello, et al., 2016; Salas, Mercado, Zampini, Ponessa, & Isla, 2016). Both the bioactive chemical components and the functional properties, such as antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antimutagenic, were previously reported in some Argentinean propolis types (Agüero et al., 2010, 2011, 2014; Isla, Paredes Guzman, Nieva Moreno, Koo, & Park, 2005; Isla et al, 2009, 2012; Nieva Moreno, Isla, Cudmani, Vattuone, & Sampietro, 1999; Nieva Moreno, Isla, Vattuone & Sampietro, 2000; Nieva Moreno, Zampini, Ordoñez, Vattuone, & Isla, 2005; Salas et al, 2014, 2016; Salas, Zampini, Maldonado & Isla, 2018; Solórzano et al., 2012, 2017; Vera et al., 2011).…”

Propolis from the Monte Region in Argentina: A Potential Phytotherapic and Food Functional Ingredient

“…The species Larrea nitida and Baccharis are sources of propolis from the Andean region [ 55 , 56 ] and Zuccagnia punctata is a source of propolis from the Monte ecoregion in northwestern Argentina [ 38 , 40 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. The Argentine propolis has several functional properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, nematicidic, and cytotoxic, among others, apart from being an inhibitor of enzymes linked to metabolic syndrome [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ]. Based on their properties, several products have been developed to date for use in human and veterinary medicine and in the food industry.…”