Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_209
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565833

Metabolic profiling of Greek propolis samples and evaluation of their antioxidant, antimutagenic and anti-ageing properties

K Stathopoulou 1, MI Stavropoulou 1, S Perantonaki 1, D Benaki 1, M Makropoulou 1, GP Voulgaridou 3, A Galanis 3, A Pappa 3, S Eftaxia 4, A Gousia 4, M Panagiotidis 5, K Gardikis 2, N Aligiannis 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • 2Apivita SA Industrial Park of Markopoulo Mesogaias, Markopoulo Attiki, Greece
  • 3Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
  • 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
  • 5Heriot Watt University School of Health Sciences, Scotland, United Kingdom

Propolis, a resinous material collected by honeybees (Apis melifera L.) from various plant sources, is rich in phenolics which are recognized widely as strong antioxidants. Since the composition of propolis depends on its origin (vegetation of the area, geographical origin), the intensity of antioxidant activity varies, affecting moreover their anti-ageing properties.

In this project, several propolis samples from different regions of Greece were collected and their secondary metabolites were obtained using sequential PLE extraction with n-heptane and methanol. The metabolic profiling of these preparations was investigated using NMR and HPTLC techniques, as well as the total phenolic and total flavonoid content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau and AlCl3 colorimetric methods, respectively. For the toxicity profiling, the viability of human cells (A375 and HaCat) treated with propolis extracts was determined by MTT and SRB assays.

The HPTLC and NMR analysis revealed high variability in the phytochemical profile of the methanolic extracts with three major groups to be observed, depending on the presence of flavonoids such as chrysin, galangin, pinocembrin etc. Moreover, various other phenolic derivatives such as 3-O-caffeoyl allyl esters were also identified. The most promising extracts, which possessed the higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity, were forwarded for the evaluation of their antimutagenic activity using the Comet assay and anti-ageing properties by exposing reconstituted human skin to UV radiation.

The metabolic analysis revealed a great differentiation between propolis samples, both in the chromatographic profile as well as to the quantity of the components. Greek propolis fingerprinting by such methodology is described for the first time, providing a useful tool, which enables their origin discrimination and in accordance with the biological results can act as an UVB protector-indicator for their use in cosmeceutical industry.