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. 2023 Apr 16;28(8):3510.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28083510.

Development and Characterization of New Green Propolis Extract Formulations as Promising Candidates to Substitute for Green Propolis Hydroalcoholic Extract

Andresa Aparecida Berretta  1 , Luana Gonçalves Zamarrenho  1   2 , Juliana Arcadepani Correa  1 , Jéssica Aparecida De Lima  1 , Giovanna Bonfante Borini  1 , Sérgio Ricardo Ambrósio  3 , Hernane da Silva Barud  4 , Jairo Kenupp Bastos  5 , David De Jong  6
Affiliations

Development and Characterization of New Green Propolis Extract Formulations as Promising Candidates to Substitute for Green Propolis Hydroalcoholic Extract

Andresa Aparecida Berretta et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

The technologies used to produce the different dosage forms of propolis can selectively affect the original propolis compounds and their biological activities. The most common type of propolis extract is hydroethanolic. However, there is considerable demand for ethanol-free propolis presentations, including stable powder forms. Three propolis extract formulations were developed and investigated for chemical composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity: polar propolis fraction (PPF), soluble propolis dry extract (PSDE), and microencapsulated propolis extract (MPE). The different technologies used to produce the extracts affected their physical appearance, chemical profile, and biological activity. PPF was found to contain mainly caffeic and p-Coumaric acid, while PSDE and MPE showed a chemical fingerprint closer to the original green propolis hydroalcoholic extract used. MPE, a fine powder (40% propolis in gum Arabic), was readily dispersible in water, and had less intense flavor, taste, and color than PSDE. PSDE, a fine powder (80% propolis) in maltodextrin as a carrier, was perfectly water-soluble and could be used in liquid formulations; it is transparent and has a strong bitter taste. PPF, a purified solid with large amounts of caffeic and p-Coumaric acids, had the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and therefore merits further study. PSDE and MPE had antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and could be used in products tailored to specific needs.

Keywords: Brazilian green propolis; antimicrobial; antioxidant; artepillin C; baccharin; caffeic acid; microencapsulated extract; p-Coumaric acid; purified extract; soluble dry extract.

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Conflict of interest statement

The government funding organizations, CNPq and FAPESP, had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. A.A.B., J.A.L. and J.A.C. are employees of Apis Flora Company.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Visual aspects of (A) the three extracts from left to right: microencapsulated propolis extract (MPE), propolis soluble dry extract (PSDE), and polar propolis fraction (PPF); (B) immediately after mixing in water to obtain 1% w/v propolis dry matter, in the same order as in a; (C) after 30 min, showing precipitates of PPF.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Microscopic aspects of the two propolis extract powders obtained by spray-dryer technology: (A) microencapsulated propolis extract (MPE) (40:60 propolis–gum Arabic); (B) propolis soluble dry extract (PSDE) (80:20, propolis–maltodextrin).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chromatographic fingerprint of the propolis samples: (A) polar propolis fraction (PPF); (B) propolis soluble dry extract (PSDE); (C) microencapsulated propolis extract (MPE), prepared according to [6]. HPLC analysis was run with a C18 reversed-phase column coupled to a pre-column, with a mobile phase of methanol and an aqueous solution of formic acid (0.1% v/v), pH 2.7. The method consisted of a 20–95% gradient for 77 min at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min in a CLC-ODS column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, particle diameter 5 µm, pore diameter 100 A). Detection was set at 275 nm.
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