Phenolic Composition of Propolis from China and from South America

Abstract

Flavonoids and other phenolic compounds were determined in 15 samples of propolis originating from China, from Brazil, and from Uruguay. A total of 24 compounds were identified using mainly HPLC and a few other analytical methods. The most abundant compounds found were benzoic acid and benzaldehyde derivatives, flavones, flavonols. and flavanones. 80% of the samples contained at least 22 g/100 g of flavonoids, primarily acacetin, isorhamnetin, apigenin, and pinocembrin. The flavonoid patterns were sufficiently distinctive to permit discrimination between propolis from China, from Uruguay, and from Brazil.