Propolis, an extremely complex resinous material gathered by honeybees from various plant sources, exhibits valuable pharmacological and biological properties attributed to the presence of polyphenols.

This study examined the antibacterial, antiradical and antioxidant activities of propolis from different provenances and correlated the values with total levels of polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids. Besides, individual contents of those polyphenols with antioxidant ability were determined and related with their bioactivity.

Analyzed samples presented a noticeable variability in their antioxidant and antiradical activities, although, linear relationships were found between them and also between polyphenol and flavonoid total levels.

Propolis antiradical and protective abilities against lipid oxidation are related to its high levels of polyphenols, but their correlations with individual active-compound contents were not simple.

Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus of the samples presented low variability. This bioactivity is assigned to pinocembrin, present in high concentrations in all the samples studied. Good correlation was found between such activity and pinocembrin content. Linear relationships between antibacterial activity and polyphenol and flavonoid total levels were also found.

Posted: 06|30|09 at 12:13 pm. Filed under: News.