Antiviral activity and chemical composition of European and Egyptian propolis

ABSTRACT

Four propolis samples from Austria, Egypt, France and Germany were investigated by GC/MS, where twenty compounds were being new for propolis. The samples showed some similarities in their qualitative composition. phenylethyl-trans-caffeate, benzyl ferulate and galangin were predominant in German propolis. Benzyl caffeate was predominant in French sample. pinocembrin was predominant in French and Austrian propolis and trans-p-coumaric acid was predominant in all samples. Egyptian propolis is characterized by the presence of unusual esters of caffeic acid with C[12]- C[16] fatty alcohols, mainly saturated. The antiviral activity of propolis samples from Austria, Egypt, France and Germany against avian reo virus [ARV] and infectious bursal disease virus [IBDV] was evaluated. All propolis samples reduced the viral infectivity in varied degree according to the propolis origin. Egyptian propolis showed the highest antiviral activity against avian reo virus and infectious bursal disease virus