Comparative study of propolis chemical and functional indicators in the Northwestern Area of Argentina

SOLORZANO, RITA ELIANA; MALDONADO, LUIS; BEDESCARRASBURE, ENRIQUE; ORDÓÑEZ, ROXANA MABEL; ISLA, MARÍA INÉS

Irlanda

Conferencia; 3rd EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF APIDOLOGY.EURBEE3; 2008

Queen's University Belfast Northern Ireland

Propolis is a natural product produced by bees from some plants secretions. Itschemical composition and functional properties vary according to geographical origin,local flora, time and way of harvest. At international level the flavonoid content isaccepted as propolis quality chemical indicator and the antioxidant capacity, asfunctional quality indicator. The objective of this work was to compare bothparameters for Argentinian propolis. For such a purpose, 21 samples taken from theNorthwestern area of Argentina, provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, Tucuman andSantiago del Estero were analyzed. The samples were taken from beehives placed indifferent phytogeographic areas: Woodland (Monte) or prepunefia, Chaco forest(bosque chaquefio), high Andean province (provincia altoandina), yunga andtransition between yunga and Chaco forest. Extracts were prepared according toIRAM-INTA 15935-1 Regulation. Dry weight, content of phenolic compounds andtotal flavonoids were determined in the obtained ethanolic extracts and theirantioxidant capacity was quantified. Most of the analyzed propolis showed a contentof phenolic compounds that ranged between 5 and 8 mg/mL while the total flavonoidcontent ranged between 2 and 5 mg/mL. All propolis showed antioxidant capacitieswith CDso (purifier concentration of 50% of free radicals) values between 4 and 9pg/mL. Propolis which came from beehives placed in the phytogeographic area ofWoodland Province (Provincia del Monte) were the most active ones, with CDsovalues ranging between 4,5 and 6,O pg/mL.Funding and acknowledgements: CONICET, ANPCyT