ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The chemistry of Costa Rican propolis from Apis mellifera remains underexplored despite its potential applications. This study identified its chemical composition, linking chemotypes to antioxidant potential. METHODS: Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra were obtained for 119 propolis extracts and analyzed using multivariate analyses. In parallel, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay was used to assess antioxidant activity. A generalized linear regression model (GLM) correlated this with its chemical profiles and geographical origin. Chromatographic methods were used to isolate active and inactive compounds, which were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). RESULTS: Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed three chemical profile groups for the 119 propolis extracts, explaining 73% of the total variance with two components. Radical scavenging activity was found to correlate with chemical composition. Isolation yielded n-coniferyl benzoate in type I (EC50 = 190 µg/mL, ORAC = 0.60 µmol TE/µmol) and nemorosone in type II (EC50 = 300 µg/mL, ORAC = 0.7 µmol TE/µmol). Type III was represented in terpene-like components, which exhibited lower antioxidant activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study categorizes Costa Rican propolis into three chemical types and identifies two key components linked to antioxidant activity. Notably, nemorosone, a valuable natural product, was found to be highly concentrated in a particular region of Costa Rica.
Subject(s)
Propolis , Animals , Propolis/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Costa Rica , Benzophenones/chemistryABSTRACT
Honey is the principal apiculture product, produced by Apis mellifera bee. This, as any other food product, has to accomplish certain quality standards, including physicochemical, organoleptic and microbiological properties. Within these parameters, different measures are considered as adulteration indicators, including hydroxymethylfurfural and diastase enzyme activity which are associated to overheating, and the sucrose, glucose and fructose content. In this study, a determination of previous parameters, additional to glucose, fructose and fructose/glucose index was performed to 35 artisan samples, obtained directly from beekeeper, previously characterized as having good productive practices and 25 commercial samples. Same time, the results obtained were compared and interpreted, in order to determine the kind of adulteration present in the honey sample. The 89% of artesian samples accomplished the parameters established by the Codex Alimentarius for HMF content, diastase activity, sucrose and simple sugars content. Nevertheless, only 20% (5) of the commercial samples accomplished the international and national normative. 24% of these samples presented succrose addition, 32% overheating or inverted sugar syrup addition, and 24% were adulterated with inverted sugar syrup.
Subject(s)
Food Contamination/analysis , Honey/analysis , Chemical Phenomena , Chemistry, Physical , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Costa Rica , Spectrophotometry, InfraredABSTRACT
Se evaluó la capacidad de extractos orgánicos de 48 especies de plantas costarricense para neutralizar la actividad hemorrágica del veneno de la serpiente Bothrops asper (terciopelo). Los extractos se evaluaron mediante un bioensayo basado en inyecciones intradérmicas de veneno en ratones, o de mezclas veneno-extracto, seguidas de la cuantificación macroscópica de la hemorragia. Se observó una inhibición total de la hemorragia con los extractos etanólicos, de acetato de etilo y acuoso de Bursera simaruba, Clusia torresii, C. palmana, Croton draco, Persea americana, Phoebe brenesii, Pimenta dioica, Sapindus saponaria, Smilax cuculmeca y Virola koschnyi. El análisis químico de estos extractos permitió identificar catequinas, flavonas, antocianinas y taninos condensados, los cuales podrían jugar un papel en la inhibición del efecto hemorrágico debido a la capacidad de quelar el ion zinc requerido por las metaloproteínas hemorrágicas para su acción
