Characterization of propolis from Moldova's central region: chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties

Abstract

The chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of propolis ethanolic and water-ethanolic extracts from the central zone of Moldova have been investigated by GC-MS and liquid chromatography. There were found 20 amino acids, of which the most abundant are glutamic acid, alanine, leucine and isoleucine. The main constituents of the alcoholic extract are pinocembrin, n-heptacosan and naringenin. The aqueous-alcoholic extract was characterized by the content of sakuranin, 4-methoxy sakuranetin, caryophylline oxide, isocaryophylline oxide, trans-longipinocarveol. The propolis extracts exhibited strong antioxidant (53.7 mg ascorbic acid eq./g extract or 113.4 mg Trolox eq./g extract and 87.5 mg ascorbic acid eq./g extract or 162 mg Trolox eq./g extract for ethanol, and water-ethanol extract, respectively) and antimicrobial activity (from 0.0055 up to 0.07%), suggesting their potential as natural agents for therapeutic use.