Foreign matter contaminating ethanolic extract of propolis: a filth-test survey comparing products from small beekeeping farms and industrial producers

Abstract

Propolis is a resinous material collected by honeybees from the exudates and buds of plants. It has been widely used as a remedy by humans since ancient times, as well as for dietary supplements and cosmetics. European legislation recently focused on the quality and hygiene standards of foods, including beehive products, and extensive efforts have been made to avoid the presence of chemical contaminants, whilst in contrast few studies have investigated the magnitude of contamination by physical ones. We conducted a filth-test survey to evaluate the contamination of ethanolic extract of propolis by foreign materials. We also compared the abundance of contaminants in propolis extracts currently marketed by small beekeepers and industrial producers. We found different foreign materials in the ethanol extract of propolis. Contaminants differed in abundance, with a higher number of carbon particles (small beekeepers: 2.70 ± 0.63; industrial producers: 1.25 ± 0.49; mean (n/30 ml) ± SE) and other inorganic fragments (small beekeepers: 3.50 ± 0.31; industrial producers: 3.88 ± 1.11) than arthropod fragments (small beekeepers: 0.30 ± 0.21; industrial producers: 0.38 ± 0.26) and mammal hairs (small beekeepers: 0.10 ± 0.10; industrial producers: 0.38 ± 0.26). No differences in the abundance of foreign matter between propolis from small beekeepers and industrial producers were found, allowing us to point out an increased awareness by small producers of issues inherent in hygiene management. Contamination of propolis extracts by animal body parts, such as insect fragments, mites and rodent hairs, indicates poor management of hygiene in the production process and low effectiveness of the filtration phase. Animal-borne contaminants can act as pathogen vectors as well as introducing dangerous allergens when ingested or applied to human skin. The filth-test applied to ethanolic propolis extract quality control can be considered a promising tool, also for small beekeeper activities, since it is cheap and allows the quick interpretation of results.

Toxic Metals in the Crude Propolis and Its Transfer Rate to the Ethanolic Extract

“…However, the mainly way of human consumption is in the form of extracts or manufactured products (Finger et al, 2014;Canale et al, 2017), making it important the knowledge of the dynamics of transfer of this metals to products consumed by humans or animals. Then, we produced the ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) of each CP sample and evaluated what would be the concentration of these after a simple extraction and filtration process.…”

“…Depending on the toxic metals concentration on the EEP, the biological activity of the extract can be affected (Bonvehí & Bermejo, 2013). The principal form of consumption of the propolis occurs in the form of extract and derived products (Canale et al, 2017), and knowing the safety of this product for consumption is important.…”

Freeze-drying duration influences the amino acid and rutin content in honeybee-collected chestnut pollen

“…Beekeeping leads to the production of important foods for human consumption (Buratti et al, 2007, Benelli et al, 2014, Canale et al, 2014a, Canale et al, 2014b, El-Aidy et al, 2015, Khan et al, 2018, Meo et al, 2017, Zoccali et al, 2017). In particular, honeybee-collected pollen is gaining attention as functional food, due to antiproliferative, antiallergic, antibiotic, antidiarrheic and antioxidant activities (Graikou et al, 2011, Marghitas et al, 2009, Medeiros et al, 2008).…”

A novel GIS-based approach to assess beekeeping suitability of Mediterranean lands

“…In detail, bees ensure pollination for over 80% of crops and wild plants in Europe, providing an essential service to crops and wild plant species ( EuropeanCommission, 2016 , Garibaldi et al, 2011 , Lautenbach et al, 2012 , Potts et al, 2010b ). Furthermore, honeybees also provide honey and other apiculture products such as pollen, wax for food processing, propolis and royal jelly ( AAFRD, 2005 , Batt and Liu, 2012 , Canale et al, 2014b , Crane, 1990 ).…”