A Proposal for Physicochemical Standards and Antioxidant Activity of Portuguese Propolis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Soraia I Falcao (Author) Other; Cristina Freire (Author) FCUP; Miguel Vilas Boas (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Vol. 90

ISSN: 0003-021X

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Other Agrarian Sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-G4D

Abstract (EN): Propolis is a complex resinous product gathered by honeybees whose chemical composition is highly variable, depending strongly on the plant sources available to the bees at the site of collection. Propolis from several locations in Portugal, including islands, was fully characterized in terms of physicochemical properties, phenolic composition and antioxidant activity, enabling the establishment of quality standards. Color, frequently used as a commercial parameter, was accessed by the first time in propolis with the CIELAB system, and proposed as a quick and reliable method for quality recognition. The results attested the existence of two different types of propolis within the six regions under study. One, the poplar propolis most common in temperate regions, revealed a high content in phenolics and show high bioactivity. The other, with darker green color is less rich in phenolics and generally less bioactive.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific