Omani propolis: chemical profiling, antibacterial activity and new propolis plant sources

Abstract

BackgroundPropolis (bee glue) is a resinous honeybee product having a long history of application in many countries as a traditional remedy for treating wounds, burns, soar throat, stomach disorders, etc. It has been proved to possess beneficial biological effects, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antiulcer, and many others. Bees gather propolis from diverse resinous plant parts and in different phytogeographic regions its chemical composition might vary significantly. In this article we report the results of the first study on the chemical profiles of propolis from Oman, its plant origin and antibacterial activity.ResultsThe chemical profiles of Omani propolis extracts were obtained by GC-MS analysis after silylation. Over 50 individual compounds were identified in the samples, belonging to different compound types: sugars, polyols, hydroxy acids, fatty acids, cardanols and cardols, anacardic acids, flavan derivatives, triterpenes, prenylated flavanones and chalcones. The profiles were dissimilar from other known propolis types. They demonstrate that although Oman is not a large country, the plant sources of propolis vary significantly, even in the same apiary and the same season. Based on chemical profiles, and isolation and identification of major marker compounds (new propolis constituents), new plant sources of propolis were found: Azadiracta indica (neem tree) and Acacia spp. (most probably A. nilotica). The ethanol extracts of the studied propolis samples demonstrated activity against S. aureus (MIC < 100 μg. mL-1) and E. coli (MIC < 380 μg. mL-1).ConclusionOmani propolis is different form the known propolis types and demonstrates significant chemical diversity. Its most important plant source is the resin of Azadirachta indica, and as a result its typical components are С5-prenyl flavanones. Other plant sources have been identified, too, playing some role in resin collection by bees in Oman: Acacia spp. (most probably A. nilotica) and Mangifera indica. The results demonstrate also the potential of Omani propolis as antimicrobial.

Design of a food product composed of honey and propolis

“…The values of antimicrobial activities of this study for propolis extracts were higher than those found by Campos et al (2014), Miorin, Levy Junior, Custodio, Bretz, and Marcucci (2003) and Silva et al (2012), whose MIC were higher (0.59-3.65 mg/ml). In contrast, our antibacterial activities were lower than those described by Popova et al (2013) and Silici and Kutluca (2005), whose MIC ranged from 0.04 to 0.17 mg/ ml. These researchers studied antibacterial activities of propolis from different bees (Melipona orbignyi, Tetragonisca angustula, Apis mellifera caucasica) or from different floral origin (Populus spp., Salix spp., Eucalyptus spp., and Erica spp.)…”

Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Propolis Ethanolic Extract from Tetragonula Bee

“…Tetragonula bees gather propolis from diverse resinous plant parts, and in different phytogeographic regions, its chemical composition might vary significantly. 3 Curcumin, 8-epi-Helenalin, (-)-Sesamin, and Kushenol-F, were found in propolis extract have antioxidant activity. Curcumin, from genus Zingiberaceae, has a unique conjugated structure shows a typical radical trapping ability as a chain-breaking antioxidant, including two methoxylated phenols and an enol form of β-diketone.…”

“…3 The composition of propolis depends on diverse vegetation, phytogeographic region, and time of the collection. 4 Results from previous researchers found more than 300 components contained in propolis i.e.…”

The Ethanol Extract of Polish Propolis Exhibits Anti-Proliferative and/or Pro-Apoptotic Effect on HCT 116 Colon Cancer and Me45 Malignant Melanoma Cells In Vitro Conditions.

“…The vast majority of studies demonstrated that propolis reveals substantial properties, including the promotion of soft tissues healing and regeneration/reparation. Apart from its antibacterial [1][2][3][4][5][6], anti-inflammatory [7,8], antioxidant [9][10][11], immunoprotective [12], hepatoprotective activities [13,14], propolis has also anti-proliferative [15][16][17][18][19] and proapoptotic ones [20][21][22][23]. Composition of propolis is diverse and depends on both place of origin and time in which it has been collected.…”