Propolis is a substance produced from the collected buds or exudates of plants
(resin) by bees. The resin is masticated, salivary enzymes are added, and the
partially digested material is mixed with beewax and used in the hive to seal the
walls, strengthen the borders of combs, and embalm dead invaders. Recently,
this product has been the subject of studies highlighting its pharmacological
properties, such as the antimicrobial
1,2, anti-oxidative
3, anti-viral
4, anti-
tumoral
5,6 or anti-inflammatory
1,2.
It has long been known that propolis chemical composition might be strongly
influenced by environmental factors peculiar to the sites of collection of a given
geographic region of production, as well as by seasoning. The aim of this case
study is to gain insights of important features associated to chemical compo-
sition, harvest season, and geographic origin of propolis produced in the Santa
Catarina state, southern Brazil. The propolis samples used in this study for NMR
data analysis were collected in the autumn (AU), winter (WI), spring (SP), and
summer (SM) of 2010 from hives located in Santa Catarina state. A total of 59
samples were collected, with the distribution of samples by seasons being: SM -
16 samples, AU and SP - 15 samples, WI - 13 samples. Also, three agroecological
regions were defined for the different apiaries, distributed as follows: Highlands
- 12 samples, Plain - 11 samples, Plateau - 36 samples.