CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF APIS MELLIFERA PROPOLIS FROM FALCON STATE, VENEZUELA

Nurby Rios; Carlos Yanez; Luis Rojas; Flor Mora; Alfredo Usubillaga; Patricia Vit

doi:10.9755/ejfa.v26i7.18198

Authors

Nurby Rios Departamento de Farmacognosia y Medicamentos Orgánicos, University of the Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
Carlos Yanez Departamento de Toxicología y Farmacología, University of the Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
Luis Rojas Instituto de Investigaciones, Sección Productos Naturales, University of the Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
Flor Mora Departamento de Farmacognosia y Medicamentos Orgánicos, University of the Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
Alfredo Usubillaga Instituto de Investigaciones, Sección Productos Naturales, University of the Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
Patricia Vit Apiterapia y Bioactividad, Departamento de Ciencias de los Alimentos, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, University of the Andes, Mérida, Venezuela

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.v26i7.18198

Keywords:

Essential oil, Apis mellifera, Propolis

Abstract

Apis mellifera bees obtain propolis by adding wax and salivary secretions to resinous, gummy or balsamic materials collected from various plant sources. Its chemical composition depends on many factors (type of bee, flora accessed, environment, management, season, vegetation and geographical area of collection). In the hive, the bees use propolis to consolidate structural components, varnish inside the cells and prevent vibrations. Propolis is known for its antibacterial, fungicidal, antiviral, anesthetic, antiulcer, immunostimulating, hypotensive, cytostatic, and antioxidant properties, the essential oil of Apis mellifera propolis, collected in Falcon state, was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger trap (0.06% yield). The oil was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC / MS) in an HP GC-MS System Model 5973. Twentythree compounds were identified (93.6%), of which the three major compounds were germacrene D (26.5%), ?-caryophyllene (10.2%) and ?-elemene (8.1%).