Development and characterization of a novel standardized propolis dry extract obtained by factorial design with high artepillin C content

Abstract

Background: Besides the known propolis biological activities, widely reported in many scientific studies, new findings in animal models have opened new fields for propolis application. Recently, there has been an increased interest in dried extracts based on natural products including propolis, as the product in the dry presentation shows several advantages. Therefore, standardizing a more soluble dry extract and allowing the production of human dosage forms are of great interest. In this context, this work aimed to develop a propolis dry extract with high propolis and artepillin C contents. Methods: The experiments followed a Box-Behnken design to study the effects of the process on the physicochemical properties of the powder using a spray drying equipment. The following drying excipients were used: silicon dioxide with arabic gum (encapsulating system A) and modified starch (encapsulating system B). Furthermore, physicochemical characterization, particle morphology by scanning electron microscopy and antibacterial assay of the samples were carried out. Results: The results revealed that all variables of the process did not influence significantly propolis and flavonoid content, moisture and angle of repose in the encapsulating system A (arabic gum and silicon dioxide). For the encapsulating system B (modified starch and silicon dioxide), it was observed that the propolis content, flavonoid content, density, moisture and angle of repose were influenced significantly by the variables of the drying process parameters. Finally, p-coumaric acid, cinnamic acid and artepillin C were affected by the process conditions of system A, while, these biomarkers were not affected by the encapsulating system B. Both propolis dry extracts obtained were active against Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions: This study evidenced different encapsulating systems lead to different effects, depending on the drying process parameters. Both encapsulating systems allowed to obtain a standardized propolis extract with high flavonoid content and the expected amounts of artepillin C. Also, they maintained the antibacterial activity of propolis.

Antioxidant Effect of Standardized Extract of Propolis (EPP‐AF®) in Healthy Volunteers: A “Before and After” Clinical Study

“…Ltda (Ribeirão Preto, SP/Brazil) using Propolis Standardized Extract EPP-AF® batch n . 189900116 [ 21 ]. EPP-AF® tablets offered 12 mg/tablet of Artepillin C by HPLC method [ 22 ], 7.10 mg/tablet of total flavonoid as quercetin, and 19.49 mg/tablet of gallic acid.…”

“…The standardized Extract of Propolis (EPP-AF®) is obtained by microencapsulation technology and has a chemical profile and stable batch by batch, consisting mainly of caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, cinnamic, aromadendrin, isosakuranetin, and artepillin C [ 19 ], substances with important antioxidant effect in vitro [ 20 , 21 ]. On the other hand, the bioavailability of polyphenols in vivo may be low, as some compounds have low absorption by the gastrointestinal tract or have extensive metabolism.…”

Propolis and its potential against SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanisms and COVID-19 disease

“…Considerable work has gone into understanding the mechanisms involved in the biological properties of propolis [ 54 , 189 , 204 , 205 ]. Also, efforts have been made to improve technological and analytical processes to determine adequate extraction procedures that preserve its bioactive compounds and consistently provide the best pharmacological properties for each medical condition [ 50 , 200 , 201 , 203 , [206] , [207] , [208] ]. However, although propolis is a product that can be offered to the market in several presentations and with different classifications according to the type of product, possibly as a health supplement, food supplement, cosmetic and/or hygiene product, the various beneficial effects that appear in published research were not accepted by the European Commission as acceptable "claims", based on the argument that there are qualitative and quantitative variations in the bioactive flavonoids, which are dependent on the raw material provided by beekeepers.…”

Encapsulation of Agarwood Essential Oil with Maltodextrin and Gum Arabic

“…The ratio between the encapsulate material (MD-GA) and agarwood oil was set in four formulations, F1, F2, F3 and F4, as shown in Table 1. The encapsulate materials were prepared from maltodextrin (MD) and gum arabic (GA), as described by Marquiafável et al (2015) with modifications.…”