Qualitative analysis and biological evaluation of propolis from lake Prespa region-Greece

Propolis is a balsamic and resinous substance, produced by bees (Apis mellifera). It is characterized by a variable chemical composition, depending on the local flora, and it has shown significant bioactivities and commercial applications [1].

In the present study, five different propolis samples from the lake Prespa region (1-5) in NW Greece (the highest tectonic lakes in the Balkans) were analyzed for the first time. All samples harvested from fixed comb hives in five distinct areas, which characterized by rare local flora with protected species. Their analyses (GC-MS, NMR) showed comparable chemical profiles in Group A (samples 1-2, 4-5), rich in phenolic acids (ferulic and caffeic acids), flavonoids and chalcones (pinocembrin, pinostrobin), and only one sample (Group B, 3) with high amount in diterpenes (pimaric, communic acids, ferrunginol), which is in accordance with local flora. All studied samples have been evaluated for their total phenolic content, showing

in Group A higher amount of phenolics (153-203 mg GAE/g extract) than B (39 mg GAE/g extract). Additionally, the extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of human pathogenic microorganisms. The assays revealed strong antimicrobial properties for B, probably due to its high diterpenic content.

Concluding, Group A could be classified close to European type of propolis, while B belongs clearly to the diterpenes’ rich Mediterranean type. It is noteworthy that even in a restricted geographical area, as in Prespa Lake region, such a significant chemical diversity in propolis chemical profile has been demonstrated.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
13. Dezember 2021

• References

• 1 Popova et al. 2010. J. Agric. Food Chem. 58(5):3167–76.