Red propolis: development and validation of an analytical method by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

Abstract

Propolis is a natural resinous product that is constituted of a mixture of exudates from plants with beeswax glands, mainly from Apis mellifera. They perform the collection of these exudates and take propolis to their hives to seal openings and also to protect them from microorganisms and insects. Due to this defense property against microorganisms, propolis has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine. Red propolis, the focus of this project, has been gaining space in the national and international markets and it is of interest to researchers due to its biological properties, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-tumor. Red propolis's botanical origin are Dalbergia ecastaphylum (L) and Symphonia globulifera LF. Several of its chemical compounds have already been identified and isolated, however, there is still not much work in the literature on the development and validation of methods for quantifying these compounds in crude propolis and its products. The validation of an analysis method is extremely important to guarantee the qualification of chemical measurements and the reliability of the obtained results. In this project, a method will be developed and validated, using liquid chromatography equipment coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS), for the quantification of red propolis compounds. LC-MS allows analysis with greater structural information, high selectivity, separation efficiency and greater detectability. From this method it will be possible to have greater precision and accuracy of the quantity of the compounds present in the samples of red propolis extract and its products, with consequent reliability of the results and it would also be used in the quality control of these samples. (AU)