Planta Med 2014; 80 - P2B101
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394978

Analysis of the volatile fraction of a Brazilian propolis from Ubatuba (SP) shows unusual chemical composition and anti-HIV properties

CC Fernandes-Silva 1, MLF Salatino 1, EW Teixeira 2, A Salatino 1
  • 1Laboratório de Fitoquímica, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo. Rua do Matão, 277 CEP 05508 – 090, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • 2Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios – Secretaria de Agricultura e Agronegócios, Avenida Professor Manoel César Ribeiro, 320Caixa Postal 07 – CEP 12400 – 970, Pindamonhangaba/SP, Brazil

Propolis is a natural product prepared mostly by Apis mellifera honeybees from bee's wax and plant exudates, consisting in a complex resinous mixture. Therefore, it has a diverse chemical composition that is highly dependent to the flora around the hive. In contrast to ethanol extracts, whose biological properties and chemical composition are well reported, there is a lack of studies on the volatile fraction of propolis. The few published works showed that the volatile fraction of different types of propolis possessess a very diverse chemical composition [1 – 4], and that the studies of their biological properties are limited to antibacterial activity [3]. Considering this, the aims of this work were to analyze, by GC-MS, the chemical composition of the volatile fraction of a Brazilian propolis from Ubatuba-SP and to verify its anti-HIV potential, by in vitro evaluation of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibition. Through the comparison of mass spectra and linear retention index with literature data, 23 compounds were identified, among which the most abundant were benzyl benzoate (45.3%), salycilic acid benzyl ester (10.04%) and spathulenol (5.45%). This chemical composition is different from those previously found in other types of Brazilian propolis, were major compounds are spathulenol (13.9%, Botucatu, SP), β-caryophyllene (12.7%, Niterói, RJ), nerolidol (up to 17.1%, green propolis from MG) and α-pinene (< 60%, RS) [1 – 4]. Additionally, this is the first report of p-ethylguaiacol, 2-methoxy-4-vinyl-phenol, 3,4-dimethoxystyrene, elemicin and linoleic acid on volatile fraction of propolis, and the first report of benzyl salicylate, benzyl cinnamate, trans-α-bergamotene, mannol, heneicosane, tricosane and pentacosane on Brazilian propolis volatile fraction. Regarding the anti-HIV properties, the studied propolis showed an inhibition of 65% of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase at 200 µg/mL, suggesting the presence of compounds with anti-HIV potential.

Keywords: anti-HIV, Brazilian propolis, volatile fraction

References:

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[4] Simionatto E, Facco AT, Morel AF, Giacomelli SR, Linares CEB. Chiral analisys of monoterpenes in volatile oils from propolis. J Chil Chem Soc 2012; 57: 1240 – 1243.