More Insight into the Chemical Composition of Greek Propolis; Differences and Similarities with Turkish Propolis

Abstract

We aimed to determine the differences and similarities between Greek and Turkish propolis with respect to their chemical composition given that the two countries have many similarities in fl oral biodiversity. We observed that: a) Greek propolis is different from the European-type propolis, having a high terpene content; therefore we can definitely characterize it as a Mediterranean type; b) the Turkish propolis collected along the coast line of the Aegean Sea is similiar to the examined Greek propolis; c) the remaining Turkish samples, originating from the European part of Turkey, were found to be similiar to the Europeantype propolis, having a high fl avonoid content. Finally, especially two compounds, β-elemene and totarol, were found in Greek samples in quite high amounts that are thought to have important biological properties.

Effects of propolis on warfarin efficacy

“…4 and 1 filter papers (Whatman International Ltd, Maidstone, UK). The filtered solution was an ethanol extract of propolis (EEP), and the final supernatant was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) [7]. …”

Propolis non-volatile constituents: A Review

“…A further insight into the chemical composition of Greek propolis was given by a Greek and Turkish collaboration (Celemli et al, 2013) where comparison with Turkish propolis composition was made. Extraction of frozen ground propolis was achieved with ethanol in a ratio of 1:3 (w/v).…”

Untargeted Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) Metabolomics Reveals Propolis Markers of Greek and Chinese Origin

“…This type of propolis is known as poplar type propolis. European propolis contains mainly poplar type phenolics [6]. In tropical and subtropical regions, bees have other plant sources, so composition of propolis coming from these areas is highly diverse and totally different from that of the poplar type.…”

“…Cuban propolis is rich in polyisoprenylated benzophenones coming from the floral resin of Clusia rosea and is distinct from both European and Brazilian types [7]. Mediterranean propolis, on the other hand, is characterized by the presence of diterpene components, such as isocupressic, pimaric, and communic acids, isoagatholal, agathadiol, and totarol, whereas it has almost no phenolics [6,8]. Its botanical origin is yet unidentified, but, especially for the Mediterranean propolis coming from Greece, on the basis of the diterpenic profile, the source plant should be some conifer species (Cupressaceae or Pinaceae) [8].…”