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Tropical propolis: Recent advances in chemical components and botanical origin

Abstract:

Origin Osmany Cuesta-Rubio,1,2 Anna Lisa Piccinelli 2 Propolis is a resinous hive product that honey bees produce using parts of plants as buds, leaves, exudates or resins, and beeswax. Propolis has a pleasant aromatic smell and varies in color depending on its source and age. Its chemical composition is highly variable and depends greatly on the plants found around the hive. This characteristic determines a broad spectrum of biological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-infl ammatory, anesthetic, antioxidant and antitumoral properties. Propolis originating from temperate zones (West Asia, Europe, and North America) has a similar chemical composition, the main constituents being phenolic compounds (fl avonoids, cinnamic acids, and derivatives). In these regions, exudates of different poplar buds (Populus species) are the main sources of propolis, together with other trees, birch (Betula alba L.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.), alder (Alnus glutinosa Medik.), and various conifers (Bankova et al. 2000, Castaldo and Capasso 2002).