Chemical Profile, Physicochemical Properties, and Antioxidant Activity of Malaysian Propolis: Insights from Honeybee and Stingless Bee
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37134/jsml.vol13.1.1.2025Keywords:
Propolis, Heterotrigona itama, Apis dorsata, antioxidant, phytochemical, physicochemicalAbstract
This study investigated the chemical composition, physicochemical properties, and the antioxidant activities of propolis from two distinct bee species, Apis dorsata (honeybees) and Heterotrigona itama (stingless bees), collected from different regions in Malaysia. The chemical profile of propolis samples was examined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy while metabolite identification was performed using AssureNMR™ 2.0. Additionally, a range of physicochemical analyses was conducted to determine pH, moisture, lipid, resin, and wax contents. Determination of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) was carried out using Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. Antioxidant activities were assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The NMR analysis revealed distinct chemical compositions between A. dorsata and H. itama propolis. Notably, α-D-glucose was prominent in A. dorsata propolis, whereas H. itama propolis exhibited higher levels of L-lactic acid and phenolic compounds. H. itama propolis also demonstrated significantly higher levels of resin, lipid, and wax contents, coupled with lower moisture content compared to A. dorsata propolis. Additionally, H. itama propolis extract exhibited significantly higher TFC and antioxidant activities compared to A. dorsata. A significant and strong correlation between TPC, TFC, and the antioxidant properties of propolis was observed. These findings suggest that H. itama propolis exhibits promising antioxidant efficacy, warranting further research to identify its specific compounds and potential health applications.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Rozaini Mohd Zohdi, Muhammad Amirul Adli, Ahmad Muqriz Miskan, Zolkapli Eshak, Richard Johari James, Syahrul Imran Abu Bakar, Monporn Payaban
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