Physical-chemical description of propolis collected in La Primavera forest, Zapopan, Jalisco state

Abstract

Propolis is a resinous material produced by bees from vegetative natural sources. It has antimicrobial, antiviral and antiparasitic properties, which show variations according to its natural original source and geographic location. The aim of this work was the physicochemical characterization of propolis and its ethanolic extract [EPP] of Apis mellifera collected in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. Ethanolic propolis extracts were obtained from defated propolis [EPPd] according to the Ramal Cubana 932-88 standards. Spectroscopic profiles of UV-Vis, fluorescence and FTIR were obtained. Results show that the main percent by weight is composed for waxes (47 %) and ethanol insoluble material (16 %). The yield of ethanolic extract [EEP] was 33 %. The quantification of phenolics compounds were 260 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of EEP (expressed as total phenol content) and 130 mg of flavonoids as quercetin equivalent per gram of EEP. The spectroscopic fingerprints (UV-VIS, fluorescence and FTIR spectra) features of the EEP showed absorbance bands in the same wavelength region described by phenols. In the instance of fluorescence, the EEP signals are similar to those reported for flavonoid type molecules. FTIR spectra are consistent with those published in the literature for other propolis, as an indication of a suitable process used in this work.