This study aimed to generate a database related to the spatial distribution of hives and productivity of regional producers, through the Geographic Information System (GIS) using the Global Positioning System. To build the database of geographical information (GIS) software for processing of geo-referenced information was used. The microregion (4 municipalities and 54 beekeepers) shows concentrations (pockets) of beekeepers and hives in certain locations. Further studies are needed on the characteristics of the local flora for bees to infer about possible saturation of floral resources, since no differences were observed between honey production in apiaries isolated or inserted into the pockets. The GIS proved to be an efficient tool for monitoring the location and origin of regional production, and for planning the distribution of hives and apiaries and so, contribute to a better use of flora and improvement of productivity of the apiaries.

Objetivou-se gerar uma base de dados relacionada à distribuição espacial, de colmeias e produtividade dos apicultores regionais, por meio do Sistema de Informacões Geográficas (SIG) utilizando-se o Sistema de Posicionamento Global. Para a construção do banco de informações foi utilizado o software de processamento de informação georreferenciada. A microrregião (4 municipios e 54 apicultores) mostra concentrações (bolsões) de apicultores e de colmeias em determinadas localidades. São necessários mais estudos sobre a flora apícola local para se inferir sobre saturação de recursos para as abelhas, já que não foram observadas diferencas de produção entre os apiários isolados ou inseridos nos bolsões. O SIG mostrou-se eficiente para o monitoramento da localização e procedência da produção regional e no planejamento da distribuição dos apiários e colmeias, podendo dessa forma contribuir para o melhor aproveitamento da flora local e melhoria da produtividade dos apiários.

The aim of this work was to investigate monthly, for one year the seasonality effect on the physicochemical properties (dry weight, flavonoids contents, pH and antioxidant activity) of ethanolic extract (EAP) of propolis produced by three different techniques (intelligent propolis collector, plastic screen or scraping) fifteen colonies of africanized bees. No differences (p>0.05) in the physicochemical properties due to the technique of propolis production and seasonality were observed.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da sazonalidade sobre algumas características físico-químicas (extrato seco, flavonóides totais, pH e atividade de oxidação) dos extratos alcoólicos (EAP) da própolis obtida mensalmente, durante um ano, por diferentes técnicas (coletor de própolis inteligente, tela plástica e raspagem) em quinze colméias de abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas (p>0,05) nas análises físico-químicas dos EAP, em função da sazonalidade e técnica de produção.

Propolis has been the subject of several recent studies, with the aim of elucidating its biological and pharmacological properties. Propolis has a well-known antimicrobial activity as well as antioxidant, antitumoral, antiinflammatory, and regenerative properties, but literature about its effects on the immune response is scarce. The goal of this work was to evaluate the propolis effect on macrophage activation by oxygen (H2O2) and nitrogen (NO) metabolite determination. Propolis was produced by africanized honeybees and hydroalcoholic solutions were prepared at different concentrations. Peritoneal macrophages were obtained from male BALB/c mice and culture cells were stimulated in vitro with propolis or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). In the in vivo assay, the animals were sacrificed after propolis treatment and cells were stimulated with IFN-gamma. We also investigated the co-stimulant action of propolis associated with IFN-gamma on macrophages. The results show that propolis induces a discreet elevation in H2O2 release and a mild inhibition of NO generation, depending on concentration. Propolis had no co-stimulant activity, diminishing IFN-gamma action on H2O2 and NO production. Data suggest that propolis acts on host non-specific immunity by macrophage activation.