Abstract

PALOMINO GARCIA, Lady Rossana et al. PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PROPOLIS FROM MUNICIPALITY OF LA UNION (ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA). Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2010, vol.63, n.1, pp.5373-5383. ISSN 0304-2847.

Propolis, a natural product collected by honeybees (Apis mellifera) from certain plant resins, has been used in folk medicine since ancient times, due to its many biological properties. The chemical composition of this hive product is very complex and depends upon the vegetation of the area from where it was collected. In this work, physicochemical characteristics, and antifungal and antibacterial activity of propolis collected in the municipality of La Unión (Antioquia, Colombia) were evaluated. Results of the physicochemical analysis of propolis were: melting point 67-68°C; hexane extractable substances 74.32 ± 0.90%; resins soluble in ethanol 14.08 ± 2.24%; insoluble residues 10.47 ± 0.84%; loss by heating 1.82 ± 0.32%; ash 0.16 ± 0.01%, and oxidation index 8.0 ± 3.0 s. Evaluations of antifungal activity, against the fungi Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, Aspergillus sp., and Penicillium sp., and antibacterial activity, against Bacillus subtilis (sporulated), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella tiphy, demonstrated an moderated effect of propolis in the growth of the different microorganisms. The analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) allows the detection mainly of fatty acids and their esters, steroids, triterpenes, and diterpenes.

Keywords : Propolis; antimicrobial activity; Colletotrichum; Bacillus subtilis; chemical composition.

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