US EPA

1040072 

Journal Article 

Brazilian red propolis: unreported substances, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities 

Righi, AA; Alves, TR; Negri, G; Marques, LM; Breyer, H; Salatino, A 

2011 

1 

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
ISSN: 0022-5142
EISSN: 1097-0010 

91 

13 

2363-2370 

English 

21590778 

10.1002/jsfa.4468 

BACKGROUND: Chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of a sample of red propolis from the state of Alagoas (northeast Brazil) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were also obtained.

RESULTS: The propolis sample contained low content of narigenin-8-C-hexoside, this being the first report of a C-glycoside in propolis. The main constituent found was characterized as 3,4,2',3'-tetrahydroxychalcone. Other important constituents were the chalcone isoliquiritigenin, the isoflavans (3S)-vestitol, (3S)-7-O-methylvestitol, the pterocarpan medicarpin, the phenylpropenes trans-anethol, methyl eugenol, elimicin, methoxyeugenol and cis-asarone, and the triterpenic alcohols lupeol and α- and β- amyrins. The methanol extract exhibited high antioxidant activities by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and β-carotene/linoleic acid assay methods, and antimicrobial activity toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

CONCLUSION: Structures are suggested for new substances never before seen in any kind of propolis. This is the first report of 3,4,2',3'-tetrahydroxychalcone and a flavone C-glycoside in a propolis sample. 

red propolis; isoflavonoids; phenylpropene derivatives; chalcones; Leguminosae