Determination of Phenolic Content and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Propolis From Antioquia (Colombia)

Abstract

Propolis, a natural product collected by honeybee from exudates of plants, is widely used in traditional medicine due to its known therapeutic properties. In this paper, the quality of ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP) from different regions of Antioquia (Colombia) is compared through the determination of flavonoids and total phenolic compounds content, and thein vitro antioxidant activity, using three assay systems: radical scavenging activity by means of the DPPH• (1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS•+ (2,2’-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid cation) assays, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Determinations of total phenolic compounds content are found between 22.11 ± 0.54 and 75.22 ± 1.35 mg GAE/g of EEP, and total content of flavonoids between 4.75 ± 0.01 y 34.50 ± 0.07 mg QE/g of EEP. The radical scavenging activity varies from 33.9 ± 9.7 to 324.6 ± 15.0, and from 455.5 ± 7.8 to 1091 ± 17.3 μmol TE/g of EEP (TEAC) in the DPPH and ABTS system, respectively. In the FRAP method, the activity is found between 40.9 ± 13.3 and 338.4 ± 22.4 μmol AAE/g of EEP (AEAC). Results show a positive linear correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. The antioxidant activity of some propolis indicates its potential role as nutraceutical.

Physicochemical Characterization, Antioxidant, and Proliferative Activity of Colombian Propolis Extracts: A Comparative Study

“…Likewise, the values of phenols and flavonoids found in propolis from the Huila region are higher than those reported in other regions of Colombia, as described by Salamanca et al [26] and Palomino et al [53]. Additionally, the extracts from Quebradon and Arcadia presented contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids similar to or higher than those reported for propolis of European, Asian, Portuguese, and South American origin [54], which suggests that the composition of the propolis analyzed is similar to that found in temperate regions, due to the influence and diversity of the botanical origin from which the bees make them in each of the biogeographic zones.…”

Antimicrobial Activity of Spanish Propolis against Listeria monocytogenes and Other Listeria Strains

“…Regarding the flavanones and flavonols subclass, both agree with the previous characterization of the poplar-type of propolis [ 18 ]. Numerous studies attribute the propolis’ bioactive properties (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant [ 33 ], biomarker [ 34 ], and immunomodulator) to the compounds present in the resinous fraction. Therefore, polyphenols and flavonoids have been described and used in the pharmaceutical industry and the medical field for their bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects [ 35 ].…”