Phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of propolis (Apis mellifera L.) from Algarve, South Portugal

Miguel, Maria; Nunes, Susana; Dandlen, Susana Anahi; Cavaco, Ana Maria; Antunes, Maria Dulce

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/11415

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Authors

Miguel, Maria

Nunes, Susana

Dandlen, Susana Anahi

Cavaco, Ana Maria

Antunes, Maria Dulce

Abstract(s)

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees to seal honeycomb, which has been used in folk medicine due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In the present study, water and methanol were used to extract phenols and flavonoids from propolis collected in thirteen different areas in the Algarve region during the winter and spring. The ABTS(center dot+), DPPH center dot, and O-2(center dot-) scavenging capacity, and metal chelating activity were also evaluated in the propolis samples. Methanol was more effective than water in extracting total phenols (2.93-8.76 mg/mL) (0.93-2.81 mg/mL). Flavones and flavonols were also better extracted with methanol (1.28-2.76 mg/mL) than with water (0.031-0.019 mg/mL). The free radical scavenging activity, ABTS (IC50 = 0.006-0.036 mg/mL), DPPH (IC50 = 0.007-0.069 mg/mL) and superoxide (IC50 = 0.001-0.053 mg/mL), of the samples was also higher in methanolic extracts. The capacity for chelating metal ions was higher in aqueous extracts (41.11-82.35%) than in the methanolic ones (4.33-29.68%). Propolis from three locations of Algarve region were richer in phenols and had better capacity for scavenging free ABTS and DPPH radicals than the remaining samples. These places are part of a specific zone of Algarve known as Barrocal.