Própolis de dois grupos, do grupo 12, coletada no sudeste do Brasil, e do grupo 13, coletada no nordeste do Brasil, foram examinadas quanto à antiproliferação de tumor maligno primário (RC-58T/h/SA#4), derivado de células de câncer prostático humano e células epiteliais prostáticas humanas. A inibição mais forte de células RC-58T/h/SA#4 foi observada no extrato de própolis do grupo 13, enquanto que foi observada inibição de crescimento moderada em células epiteliais prostáticas humanas no grupo 12. Conclui-se que a própolis brasileira do grupo 13 contém importantes ingredientes químicos.

Two groups of propolis, group 12, which was collected in the southeastern Brazil and group 13, which was collected in the northeastern Brazil, were examined for antiproliferation of primary malignant tumor (RC-58T/h/SA#4)-derived human prostate cancer cells and human prostate epithelial cells. The strongest inhibition of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells was observed in propolis group 13 extracts, whereas moderate growth inhibition was observed in human prostate epithelial cells in comparison with group 12. It can be said that the Brazilian propolis of group 13 contains important chemical ingredients.

Extratos etanólicos e óleos essenciais de própolis verde do sudeste brasileiro e gemas de sua origem botânica (Baccharis dracunculifolia) foram analisados por CLAE-FR (Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência em Fase Reversa), CCDAE (Cromatografia em Camada Delgada de Alta Eficiência) e CG-EM (Cromatografia Gasosa acoplada a Espectrometria de Massas). Os óleos essenciais foram obtidos por hidro destilação. Extratos etanólicos e óleos essenciais de Baccharis dracunculifolia e de própolis mostraram perfis cromatográficos similares entre si. Treze flavonóides foram identificados por CLAE-FR e CCDAE em ambas as amostras. Vinte e três compostos voláteis foram identificados por CG EM, sendo dezessete deles presentes em ambos os óleos essenciais. Artepillin C foi o flavonóide encontrado em maiores concentrações em ambas as amostras, enquanto nerolidol foi o volátil majoritário em ambos os óleos essenciais. Os compostos majoritários identificados neste trabalho podem ser utilizados como marcadores químicos para classificar de forma prática e identificar origens botânicas de própolis.

Ethanolic extracts and essential oils from Green Propolis from southeastern Brazil and leaf buds from its botanical origin Baccharis dracunculifolia were analyzed by Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC), Reversed Phase High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (RP-HPTLC) and Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation. Both ethanolic extracts and essential oils showed similar chromatographic profiles. Thirteen flavonoids were identified by RP-HPLC and RP-HPTLC analyses in both samples. Twenty-three volatile compounds were identified by GC-MS analyses. Seventeen were present in both essential oils. The major flavonoid compound in both extracts was artepillin C. The major volatile compound in both essential oils was nerolidol. The major compounds identified in this work could be used as chemical markers in order to classify and identify botanical origins of propolis.

Natural aroma compounds are of major interest to the food and fragrance industry. Vanillin (3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) was isolated from the vanilla beans in 1816 and its world consumption has reached today about 12000 tons per year. But only approximately 50 tons per year are extracted from vanilla pods (Vanilla planifolia). The remainder is provided by synthetic vanillin. This review is about alternative processes to produce natural vanillin de novo or by biotransformation using biotechnological methods involving enzymes, microorganisms and plant cells.