Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar os compostos fenólicos totais no mel monofloral de aroeira (Astronium urundeuva) e verificar, por meio de testes histoquímicos, se estes compostos estão presentes nos tecidos florais. O apiário, com abelhas Apis mellifera, foi instalado em meio a aroeiras, na região do semiárido do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. A partir da anatomia das flores e da raque da inflorescência, observou-se epiderme ornamentada, tricomas tectores e glandulares, idioblastos e sistema secretor desenvolvido. O mel de aroeira apresenta, em média, 142.5±22.6 mg 100 g-1 de compostos fenólicos totais, valor considerado muito elevado quando comparado aos de outros méis monoflorais provenientes do Brasil e do mundo. Os testes histoquímicos detectaram a presença de substâncias fenólicas nos idioblastos e nos ductos secretores associados ao floema nos tecidos florais, especialmente no parênquima nectarífero, na epiderme e nos tricomas glandulares. Os compostos fenólicos estão presentes no tecido floral de ambos os morfos florais, principalmente no nectário onde as abelhas coletam o néctar. Os resultados obtidos são os primeiros, na literatura, indicativos de que os compostos fenólicos produzidos pelas árvores de aroeira são transferidos através do néctar para o mel. Este estudo contribui para o estabelecimento de padrões de qualidade do mel de aroeira e para a identificação da sua origem botânica.

Abstract The objective of this work was to quantify the content of total phenolic compounds in monofloral honey from aroeira (Astronium urundeuva) trees and to verify, through histochemical tests, if these compounds are present in the floral tissues. The apiary, with Apis mellifera bees, was installed among aroeira trees in the semiarid region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From the anatomy of the flowers and of the inflorescence rachis, an ornamented epidermis, tector and glandular trichomes, idioblasts, and a developed secretory system were observed. Aroeira honey has an average phenolic content of 142.5±22.6 mg 100 g-1, a value considered very high when compared with those of other monofloral honeys from Brazil and around the world. Histochemical tests detected the presence of phenolic substances in the idioblasts and secretory ducts associated with the phloem in the floral tissues, especially in the nectar parenchyma, epidermis, and glandular trichomes. Phenolic compounds are present in the floral tissue of both floral morphs, mainly in the nectary where honeybees collect nectar. The obtained results are the first, in the literature, indicative that the phenolic compounds produced by aroeira trees are transferred through the nectar to the honey. This study contributes to the establishment of quality standards for monofloral aroeira honey and to the identification of its botanical origin.

Abstract The fractionation of apitoxin (bee venom) by means of a commercial 10 kDa ultrafiltration membrane was investigated aiming at the removal of phospholipase A2, the main allergenic substance. The feed content was varied from 1 to 50 g apitoxin/L, in deionized water, and caused changes in membrane flux and rejection, due to concentration polarization. The increase in pressure difference and stirring rate improved the flux through the membrane. The best result was achieved for 1 g apitoxin/L in feed stream, with a pressure difference of 220 kPa, and 750 rpm, with a permeate flux of 103 kg/m2h. The use of ultrafiltration was efficient to improve the permeate safety since biological tests revealed that the remaining enzyme lost its ability to catalyze the hydrolysis of phospholipids.

El propóleo es un material resinoso producido por las abejas a partir de diversos materiales vegetales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar muestras de propóleos de Apis mellifera provenientes de la región Andina colombiana respecto a su perfil antimicrobiano y fisicoquímico. Fueron empleados extractos etanólicos de propóleos por la técnica de disco-difusión, frente a las especies Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus y Candida albicans. Para la caracterización fisicoquímica se evaluaron el porcentaje de extracto seco, contenido de cera, índice de oxidación y determinación cuantitativa de compuestos fenólicos y flavonoides. Todas las muestras presentaron actividad antibacteriana, con halos de inhibición comprendidos entre 8 y 12 mm para E. coli y entre 8,3 y 23,5 mm para S. aureus. No se observó ninguna actividad contra C. albicans. Los parámetros fisicoquímicos citados anteriormente presentaron una variación de 2,72 a 9,17%, 0 a 2%, 3 a 51s, 0,1 a 0,5 (p/p) y 0,02 a 0,95 (p/p), respectivamente. El perfil antimicrobiano observado, relacionado al fisicoquímico, sugiere la necesidad de nuevos estudios para la determinación del origen botánico y geográfico de las muestras estudiadas.

Propolis is a resinous material produced by bees from various plant sources. The objective of this study was to characterize propolis samples of Apis mellifera from the Colombian Andean region, regarding the antimicrobial and physicochemical profiles. We used the technique of disk diffusion with ethanol extracts of propolis against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The physicochemical characterization included percentage of solids content, wax, oxidation index and quantitative determination of phenolic and flavonoids compounds. All samples showed antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones between 8,0 and 12,0 mm for E. coli and between 8,3 and 23,5 mm for S. aureus. We did not observe any activity against C. albicans. The physical and chemical parameters cited above showed a variation from 2.72 to 9.17%, 0 to 2%, 3 to 51 s, 0.1 to 0.5 (w/w) and 0.02 to 0.95 (p/p), respectively. The antimicrobial profile observed, related to the physicochemical profile, suggests the need for further studies to determine the geographical and botanical origin of the samples studied.

Foi estudada a anatomia da folha, em diferentes fases de desenvolvimento, a partir do ápice caulinar, de B. dracunculifolia para caracterizar as estruturas secretoras e tricomas que podem ser utilizados como indicadores na determinação da origem botânica da própolis produzida por Apis mellifera. O material foi coletado no Município de Jaboticatubas, MG, onde estão instaladas colmeias experimentais. A espécie estudada apresenta primórdios foliares densamente recobertos por tricomas glandulares e tectores. Os tricomas glandulares são freqüentes em folhas jovens e raros em folhas adultas. A folha adulta é anfi-estomática. O mesofilo é composto por parênquima paliçádico, escasso parênquima lacunoso e canais secretores associados ao floema. Os fragmentos foliares, estômatos, tricomas glandulares e tricomas tectores encontrados em amostras de própolis são semelhantes aos observados em folhas de B. dracunculifolia.

The leaf anatomy of B. dracunculifolia, in different developmental stages, was studied, with the purpose of characterizing the secretory structures that can be used as indicators for determining of the botanical origin of propolis produced by Apis mellifera. The material was collected in the Municipal district of Jaboticatubas, Minas Gerais State, where experimental hives were installed. The studied species are characterized by having the surface of the youngest leaves densely covered by glandular and non-glandular trichomes. The glandular trichomes are abundant in the early stages of leaf growth and uncommon in mature leaves. The mature leaf is amphistomatic. The mesophyll consists of palisade cells, scarce spongy parenchyma and secretory ducts associated to the phloem. The leaf fragments, stomata, glandular trichomes and non-glandular trichomes present in propolis samples are similar to those found in B. dracunculifolia leaves.