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Caetano AR, Oliveira RD, Pereira RFC, Cardoso TV, Cardoso A, Almeida-Aguiar C. Examination of Raw Samples and Ethanol Extracts of Gerês Propolis Collected in Different Years. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3909. [PMID: 38005805 PMCID: PMC10674325 DOI: 10.3390/plants12223909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Propolis, a natural resin created by bees, has garnered significant attention from both the scientific community and industry due to an impressive range of bioactivities. Nonetheless, the intrinsic variability in its chemical composition and bioactive profiles has been hindering propolis' full potential use. We previously showed that ethanol extracts (EEs) of a Portuguese propolis sample (Gerês) collected over four consecutive years displayed similar chemical and biological profiles, a constancy never documented before. However, the characteristics of the unprocessed samples of Gerês propolis were never described. Hence, the central objective of this study is to assess the quality parameters of unprocessed propolis samples collected from Gerês (G), over a four-year period (2019-2022), alongside the analysis of the chemical composition and bioactivities of the EEs prepared with the same raw samples. The ash, wax, balsam and water contents of the unprocessed samples-G19 to G22-showed minor fluctuations, likely attributed to uncontrollable natural events impacting the propolis source and collection process. On the other hand, the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of all the four ethanol extracts (G19.EE-G22.EE) consistently align with prior studies. Furthermore, the Gerês propolis extracts showed remarkable uniformity in chemical composition parameters too, particularly concerning total polyphenol, flavonoid and ortho-diphenol contents. In summary, our research reinforces the beneficial properties of propolis and show that extracts' bioactivities remain within the reference ranges for Gerês propolis, despite minor differences in unprocessed samples, suggesting a consistent action over time. Thus, this work could be instrumental towards the establishment of standard parameters for propolis applications, offering valuable insights to this field of propolis research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Caetano
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.R.C.); (R.D.O.); (R.F.C.P.); (T.V.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Rafaela Dias Oliveira
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.R.C.); (R.D.O.); (R.F.C.P.); (T.V.C.); (A.C.)
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Rui Filipe Cerqueira Pereira
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.R.C.); (R.D.O.); (R.F.C.P.); (T.V.C.); (A.C.)
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Tiago Vidal Cardoso
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.R.C.); (R.D.O.); (R.F.C.P.); (T.V.C.); (A.C.)
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Andreia Cardoso
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.R.C.); (R.D.O.); (R.F.C.P.); (T.V.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Cristina Almeida-Aguiar
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.R.C.); (R.D.O.); (R.F.C.P.); (T.V.C.); (A.C.)
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Maria Nichitoi M, Maria Josceanu A, Daniela Isopescu R, Olimpia Isopencu G, Geana EI, Teodora Ciucure C, Lavric V. Do ultrasonic field effects upon the polyphenolics profile of propolis extracts improve their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity? ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 92:106274. [PMID: 36566521 PMCID: PMC9803952 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2022.106274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was applied for polyphenols extraction from Romanian propolis, followed by comparison with previous maceration work. The effects consisted not only in time reduction and extraction yield increase, but also in polyphenolics profile modification in terms of flavonoids / polyphenolic acids ratio. The operating parameters were ultrasounds (US) field exposure time (10-100 min), solvent composition (water, 25 % and 50 % ethanolic solutions, w/w), and liquid:solid ratio (2:1, 4:1 and 6:1, w:w), while keeping temperature constant. 24 polyphenolic derivatives were quantified by UHPLC-HRMS. UAE favored the extraction of pinocembrin, isorhamnetin and chrysin in water and 25 % ethanol, leading to different profiles than maceration, and further influences upon the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. All extracts demonstrated increased antibacterial and antifungal activity compared to maceration, particularly the 50 % ethanolic extracts, which presented a three-times larger antioxidant capacity. Chemometric methods (Principal Component Analysis - PCA and Partial Least Squares Regression - PLS) and a saturation type model were used to correlate the polyphenolics profiles and antioxidant capacity. Experimental and modelling results concluded that 50 % ethanolic solutions and UAE represent the favorable operating conditions in terms of yield and extracts quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mădălina Maria Nichitoi
- University Politehnica of Bucharest, Doctoral School "Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies", Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana Maria Josceanu
- University Politehnica of Bucharest, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Raluca Daniela Isopescu
- University Politehnica of Bucharest, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gabriela Olimpia Isopencu
- University Politehnica of Bucharest, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Elisabeta-Irina Geana
- National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICIT, Râmnicu-Vâlcea, Romania
| | - Corina Teodora Ciucure
- National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICIT, Râmnicu-Vâlcea, Romania
| | - Vasile Lavric
- University Politehnica of Bucharest, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Bucharest, Romania
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