Chemical Constituents in Baccharis dracunculifolia as the Main Botanical Origin of Southeastern Brazilian Propolis

Abstract

Previously, it was reported that one group of propolis (Group 12) was identified in southeastern Brazil, and the botanical origin of the propolis was Baccharis dracunculifolia resinous exudates. It was also observed that honeybee (Africanized Apis mellifera) mainly visited the leaf buds or unexpanded leaves of B. dracunculifolia but rarely expanded leaves. B. dracunculifolia is dioecious with male and female inflorescences, and RPHPLC of the ethanolic extracts of the respective male and female bud resinous exudates showed the same profiles. RPHPLC profiles of propolis G12 leaf buds and unexpanded and expanded leaves of B. dracunculifolia showed similarity, but unexpanded leaves quantitatively decreased in chemical constituents as compared with leaf buds. In the case of expanded leaves, all chemical constituents were severely decreased or disappeared. Artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) was also identified in both propolis and resinous exudates, and both ethanolic extracts contained the highest concentrations of this compound as compared with the rest of the chemical constituents.

Comparison of volatile and polyphenolic compounds in Brazilian green propolis and its botanical origin Baccharis dracunculifolia

“…Six microliters of the ethanolic extracts were applied, and an ascending chromatographic run with a mobile phase of ethanol:water (55:45 vol/vol) was performed during 1.5 hour. The detection of flavonoids was carried out by UV radiation at 366 nm (PARK et al, 2004). G12 propolis were also present in the ethanolic extracts of B. dracunculifolia leaf buds, although in different relative amounts (Table 1).…”

Comparative antiproliferation of human prostate cancer cells by ethanolic extracts of two groups of Brazilian propolis

“…Propolis has been used as folk medicine since ca. 300 BC, and it has also been reported that propolis has a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoral, anti-HIV, and anti-dioxins (GHISALBERTI, 1979;BURDOCK, 1998;PARK et al, 2005). Recently, propolis has also been extensively used in foods and beverages as an ingredient of functional foods to improve health and prevent diseases (BURDOCK, 1998;PARK et al, 2004).…”

“…300 BC, and it has also been reported that propolis has a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoral, anti-HIV, and anti-dioxins (GHISALBERTI, 1979;BURDOCK, 1998;PARK et al, 2005). Recently, propolis has also been extensively used in foods and beverages as an ingredient of functional foods to improve health and prevent diseases (BURDOCK, 1998;PARK et al, 2004). These applications of propolis have led to increased interest in its chemical compositions because so far mainly polyphenol compounds have been identified in propolis collected by Apis mellifera, and the major polyphenols are flavonoid aglycones and their derivates (KONIG, 1985).…”

Antiproliferation of human prostate cancer cells by ethanolic extracts of Brazilian propolis and its botanical origin

“…The chemical composition of the main flavonoids in propolis has been found to be quantitatively or qualitatively variable, depending on the environmental plant ecology (15)(16)(17).…”

“…Thus, groups 1, 2, 6, and 7 are highly antagonistic to the growth of nasopharyngel carcinoma (KB), and groups 6 and 7 are also highly inhibitive against the growth of ileocecal adenocarcinoma (HCT-8), renal carcinoma CAKE-1, and breast carcinoma (MCT-7) tumor cell lines (17,18). The propolis group 12, which is known as green propolis, is widely used mainly for ingredients of functional foods and pharmaceutical purposes (15,16). The botanical origin of propolis group 12 was the resin of the leaf bud of Baccharis dracunculifolia in southeastern Brazil.…”