PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND FLAVONOID CONTENTS OF ARTISANAL BRAZILIAN GREEN PROPOLIS

Abstract

Objective: Green propolis ( Baccharis dracunculifolia ) is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine and elsewhere for treating varied illness. To address the need to meet its chemical composition and pharmacological effects, this study aimed to assess the physicochemical properties of green propolis from the metropolitan region of Vale do Aco, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: Besides wax and ash contents analysis, flavonoids were analyzed by UV-visible scan spectrophotometry and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectra (GC-MS). Results: Samples were under the limits of ashes adopted in Brazil, and ranged from 4.84% to 12.78% regarding loss on drying. Wax content of propolis from the winter sample (10.84%) was higher than summer (8.94%) and autumn samples (7.22%). Summer samples, however, presented the highest concentration of flavonoids (1.697 mg/mL), and followed by autumn and winter samples, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings raised the possibility that this source of propolis may be useful an adjuvant phytotherapeutic product, and contributes to investigations that seek to verify the biological activities of green propolis.