RESUMO:Própolis é uma mistura complexa, formada por material resinoso e balsâmico. Sua composição química é complexa e variada, estando relacionada com a fl ora de cada região visitada pelas abelhas e com o período de coleta da resina. Inclui fl avonóides, ácidos aromáticos, terpenóides e fenilpropanóides, ácidos graxos e vários outros compostos. A própolis tem sido objeto de intensos estudos farmacológicos e químicos nos últimos 30 anos. Em várias partes do mundo é indicada para melhorar a saúde e prevenir doenças. Atualmente, é disponível em várias formas farmacêuticas como cápsulas, extratos, enxaguatório bucal, na forma de pó, entre outras. Ainda são necessários estudos correlacionando a composição química com a atividade biológica, defi nindo cada tipo de própolis com a sua aplicação terapêutica. É uma tarefa imprescindível para um mercado cada vez maior e exigente em todo o mundo.Unitermos: Própolis, constituintes químicos, atividade biológica.ABSTRACT: "Propolis: updates on chemistry and pharmacology". Propolis (bee glue) is a complex mixture, formed by resinous and balsamic material. Its chemical composition is variable and complex, being related with the fl ora of each region visited by the bees and with the period of resins collection. Flavonoids, aromatic acids, terpenoids and phenylpropanoids, fatty acids, and other compounds are found in propolis. In the last 30 years, propolis has become subject of intense pharmacological and chemical studies. In different parts of the world it is indicated to improve health and prevent illnesses. Currently, it is available in some pharmaceutical forms as capsules, extracts, mouthrinses, powder form, among others. Indeed, studies correlating the chemical composition with the biological activity are necessary, defi ning each type of propolis with its therapeutic application. It is an essential task for a market ever bigger and demanding in the whole word.

Recently there has been a growing interest in the discovery of antioxidant substances for use in food and medicinal products, as substitutes for synthetic antioxidant substances. Propolis has been the object of pharmacological studies due to its biological activity amongst antioxidant properties. In this work, the seasonal influence on antioxidant activity and total phenol content of red propolis ethanolic extracts was evaluated, as well as the established correlation between them, the antioxidant capacity being evaluated by different methods (DPPH, H 2 O 2 and total antioxidant activity). The results have demonstrated that the red propolis analyzed possesses antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by the methods used.