Monoterpenes from the essential oil from Brazilian propolis affect seedling cellular elongation

Abstract

Propolis is a complex mixture of beeswax, resinous and volatile substances produced by honeybees with material collected from plant exudates. The essential oil obtained from a propolis samples from southern Brazil was extracted by hydro-distillation. The yield of oil is high (8.5%), and its major constituents are the monoterpenes apinene (86%), b-pinene (12%) and camphene (1%). At 1% concentration, the oil inhibited the germination of lettuce seeds. At 0.25%, the growth speed index and the growth of the hypocotyl-radicle axis reduced substantially. The oil at 0.5% inhibited the elongation of procambial cells and shifted the elongation of the ground meristem cells axially to radially. Hence, the elongation zone assumed a stratified arrangement. In radicles from seeds treated with oil at 1%, a radially directed cell elongation took place in the root cap, protoderm and procambium, preventing the root to protrude. Intercellular spaces appeared between layers of cells of the ground meristem. The anatomical changes observed might be an effect of monoterpenes, either promoting the production of ethylene or affecting the sensitivity of meristem cells to this regulator.

How diverse is the chemistry and plant origin of Brazilian propolis?

“…Other diterpenes from undetermined origin have also been reported for this propolis type (Tazawa et al 2016). The essential oil obtained from a propolis from the state of Paraná (southern Brazil) contains almost exclusively α-and β-pinenes, suggesting derivation from locally cultivated Pinus species (Mayworm et al 2017). Present available evidence indicates that brown propolis is chemically diverse, gaining contribution of resins from either native or cultivated plant species.…”

Antileishmanial Potential of Propolis Essential Oil and Its Synergistic Combination With Amphotericin B

“…As demonstrated by several studies, the propolis EO chemical composition has been well explored. 18,[21][22][23] In most regions, terpenoid compounds are the major constituents identified. However, its composition is quite variable depending on the environmental factors, the geographic region of production, the season of harvest, and the concentration of metabolites in plants visited by bees.…”

“…22 In addition, in other regions of Brazil, the most abundant components in EO were β-caryophyllene (12.7%), acetophenone (12.3%), farnesene (9.2%), and linalool (6.47%). [21][22][23] Antileishmanial Activity of Propolis EO Propolis EO exhibited strong antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of L. major and L. infantum with IC 50 values of 5.29 ± 0.31 and 3.67 ± 0.52 µg/mL, respectively (Table 2). Moreover, a high activity was found against amastigote forms of L. major and L. infantum (IC 50 = 7.38 ± 0.45 and 4.96 ± 0.24 µg/mL, respectively) with significant (P < 0.05) reduction of the parasite proliferation (more than 95%).…”

“…These results were consistent with those found in the Iranian propolis EO which was rich in α-pinene (43.9%), 1,8-cineole (11.1%), and camphene (8.6%). 22 Kerman's propolis EO also contained a 21 in which α-pinene was the major compound and its content varied between 7.9% and 45.8%, trans-β-terpineol (2.2%-6.6%), junipene (1.5%-11.7%), and δ-cadinene (0.3%-8.4%), as well as Brazilian propolis that contained α-pinene (18.3%), β-pinene (6.5%), and δ-cadinene (7.0%). 22 In addition, in other regions of Brazil, the most abundant components in EO were β-caryophyllene (12.7%), acetophenone (12.3%), farnesene (9.2%), and linalool (6.47%).…”

“…22 In addition, in other regions of Brazil, the most abundant components in EO were β-caryophyllene (12.7%), acetophenone (12.3%), farnesene (9.2%), and linalool (6.47%). [21][22][23]…”