Variation in the Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Propolis Collected During Two Seasonal Periods in the Zona da Mata Region of Brazil
6 affiliations
- 1Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, R. José Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil
- 2Departamento de Farmácia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil
- 3Departamento de Produtos Naturais e Alimentos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- 4Laboratório de Produtos Naturais Bioativos, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, R. José Lourenço Kelmer s/n, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil
- 5Laboratório de Genética e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, R. Major Jerônimo, 566, Patos de Minas 38700-002, MG, Brazil
- 6Departamento de Farmácia, Instituto de Ciências da Vida, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, R. Manoel Byrro, 241, Campus Governador Valadares, Governador Valadares 35032-620, MG, Brazil
Abstract
Propolis is a chemically complex bee product whose composition and biological properties are influenced by botanical and environmental factors. This study compared eight propolis samples collected during summer and winter from four apiaries in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Samples were characterized by physicochemical properties, phenolic and flavonoid content, qualitative chemical profiles by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and electrical impedance, while antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities were evaluated using complementary in vitro assays. Summer-collected samples generally exhibited higher dry extract and total phenolic content and lower wax levels, whereas flavonoid content remained comparatively stable. Differences were also observed in electrical impedance and several antioxidant responses, with total phenolic content strongly and negatively correlated with DPPH IC50 values (ρ = −0.864). All extracts inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, predominantly with MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) values of 250–500 µg/mL, without detectable bactericidal activity at the concentrations tested. UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS profiling revealed qualitatively similar chemical profiles comprising phenolic and prenylated derivatives, including artepillin C, consistent with a possible contribution from Baccharis dracunculifolia. Notably, the samples from D apiary (D1 and D2) showed pronounced and selective cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells. Overall, differences in chemical, physicochemical, and biological properties were observed between the two collection periods of regional propolis.
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BibTeX
@article{moreira2026variation,
title = {{Variation in the Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Propolis Collected During Two Seasonal Periods in the Zona da Mata Region of Brazil}},
author = {Laís A. Moreira and João Paulo B. Sousa and Carla Monteiro Leal and Victor Campana Leite and Jessica Pereira Silva and Maria Luiza A. A. Soares and Gislaine Gonçalves Rocha and Paula Marynella Alves Pereira Lima and Fabíola Dutra Rocha and Wesley W. G. Nascimento and Nícolas de Castro Campos Pinto and Humberto Moreira Húngaro and Thaise Gonçalves Araújo and Ademar A. Da Silva Filho},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31203611},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/20/3611},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Variation in the Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Propolis Collected During Two Seasonal Periods in the Zona da Mata Region of Brazil
AU - Laís A. Moreira
AU - João Paulo B. Sousa
AU - Carla Monteiro Leal
AU - Victor Campana Leite
AU - Jessica Pereira Silva
AU - Maria Luiza A. A. Soares
AU - Gislaine Gonçalves Rocha
AU - Paula Marynella Alves Pereira Lima
AU - Fabíola Dutra Rocha
AU - Wesley W. G. Nascimento
AU - Nícolas de Castro Campos Pinto
AU - Humberto Moreira Húngaro
AU - Thaise Gonçalves Araújo
AU - Ademar A. Da Silva Filho
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/10
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31203611
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/20/3611
AB - Propolis is a chemically complex bee product whose composition and biological properties are influenced by botanical and environmental factors. This study compared eight propolis samples collected during summer and winter from four apiaries in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Samples were characterized by physicochemical properties, phenolic and flavonoid content, qualitative chemical profiles by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and electrical impedance, while antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities were evaluated using complementary in vitro assays. Summer-collected samples generally exhibited higher dry extract and total phenolic content and lower wax levels, whereas flavonoid content remained comparatively stable. Differences were also observed in electrical impedance and several antioxidant responses, with total phenolic content strongly and negatively correlated with DPPH IC50 values (ρ = −0.864). All extracts inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, predominantly with MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) values of 250–500 µg/mL, without detectable bactericidal activity at the concentrations tested. UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS profiling revealed qualitatively similar chemical profiles comprising phenolic and prenylated derivatives, including artepillin C, consistent with a possible contribution from Baccharis dracunculifolia. Notably, the samples from D apiary (D1 and D2) showed pronounced and selective cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells. Overall, differences in chemical, physicochemical, and biological properties were observed between the two collection periods of regional propolis.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -