Chemical composition and biological evaluation of propolis from north Aegean Greek islands

Propolis is a resinous material that bees collect from plants and it is characterized by a wide range of biological activities, depending on its chemical composition, which in turn depends on geographical diversity [1]. Greek propolis shares different characteristics than the typical European one [1] and in this study, thirteen samples from the NE Aegean islands: Lemnos, Lesvos, Chios, Psara, Oinousses, Samos, Ikaria and Fourni, were phytochemically analyzed for the first time. N Aegean islands characterized by a unique ecosystem with high plant diversification responses and endemism, as this area is standing as a bridge of Europe, Asia and Africa. All samples were analyzed (GC-MS, NMR) revealing a significant percentage of diterpenes (dehydroabietic acid, pimaric acid, abietic acid, totarol, sempervirol) in all samples, while flavonoids and chalcones were detected in low% in samples from Lesvos and Lemnos. The chemical analysis showed that N Aegean Islands’ propolis belongs to the Mediterranean type, highly influenced by Conifer trees resin, due to the local flora.

Furthermore, the total phenolic content was evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu method (23 to 173 mg GAE/g extract) and all propolis samples showed significant antibacterial activity against six Gram-negative and Gram-positive human pathogenic bacteria and three fungi, probably due to the large amounts of detected diterpenes, which are well known antimicrobial agents [1].

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
13. Dezember 2021

• References

• 1 Graikou et al. 2016. J. Food Sci. Tech., 65:236-267.