CURRENT KNOWLEAGE OF THE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF ARGENTINE PROPOLIS.

ISLA M.I; ZAMPINI I.C; ORDOÑEZ R.M; ALBERTO M. R.; NIEVA MORENO M.I.; SAYAGO J.E.; VERA N.; SOLÓRZANO E.; DANERT C.; BEDASCARRASBURE E.; MALDONADO L.

Congreso; CONGRESO INTERNACIONAL DE APICULTURA DE APIMONDIA; 2011

For over twenty years our research group is examining the chemistry and functionality of propolis from different phytogeographical regions of Argentine. According to the location of hives varies the content of phenolics and flavonoids. Propolis from the Northeast and Central regions of Argentina has a lower content of phenolic compounds than Northwestern (NW). In extracts of propolis from NW Argentina (Tucumán and Catamarca) were identified flavonoids and chalcones with different degrees of hydroxylation and methoxylation while in propolis from the Central and Northeast of Argentina chalcones were not detected until the moment. Advances in knowledge of Argentine propolis produced by our group and other Argentine authors allow us to gauge the potential of propolis in some regions such as Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Salta, Jujuy, Chaco, Misiones, San Juan and Catamarca in terms of their antioxidant capacity (free radical scavenging), antibacterial activity on human and animal pathogens), anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. Also toxicity studies carried out so far not only demonstrate the lack of mutagenicity but also of the same antimutagenic capacity. A significantly positive correlation between the content of phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids and biological activities was observed in most of the samples studied.