Free radical scavengers and mineral content of propolis from San Juan province, Argentina

LIMA, BEATRIZ; TAPIA, ALEJANDRO; FABANI, M. PAULA; RODRÍGUEZ, JAIME; WUNDERLIN, DANIEL A.; SCHEMEDA-HIRSCHMANN, GUILLERMO; FERESIN, GABRIELA

Uspallata, Mendoza

Congreso; XXIII Congreso Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2005

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Flavonoids and phenolic compounds derived from plants are potent free radical scavengers. These compounds from medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, and propolis and included in dietary supplements or medicines aiming to prevent or treat diseases. Also, propolis contains many trace minerals elements essential for health (Zn, Cu, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, Mg). This study evaluated the free radical scavenger as well as mineral, phenolic and flavonoid content of propolis collected from different locations of San Juan province. In addition, representative HPLC DAD chromatograms of propolis were obtained Total phenolic content of the plant was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau technique using a calibration curve with tannic acid with percent value ranging from 17.50 ± 0.56 to 26.62 ± 0.10. Total flavonoid content was estimated by the aluminium chloride method and showed percent values ranging from 5.70 ± 0.05 to 10.57 ± 0.80. Free radical scavenging activity in propolis methanol extract, measured by decoloration of a methanolic solution of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). At 50 ìg/mL all showed a percent decoloration from 88.54 ± 0.06 to 94.74 ± 0.20 Mineral content determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry showed values ranging from 12-35, 2-6 17-19, 1100- 2000 and 800-1200 ppm for Mn, Cu, Cr, K and Ca respectively.