Chemical prospecting and evaluation of the biological activity of the propolis of Salinópolis, Pará

Abstract

This paper investigates the presence of secondary metabolites in samples of propolis produced in the municipality of Salinópolis, Pará, and their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The hexane and methanol extracts were obtained by maceration of the crude propolis. The phytochemical screening lead to the identification of phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and steroids in the methanol extract and phenolics and flavonoids in the hexane extract. The methanol (CE50=93.92 ± 21.76 mg/mL) and hexane (CE50=100.18 ± 18.71) extracts had a good antioxidant activity, measured by DPPH method. The extracts did not present cytotoxic activity for Artemia salina. The results indicate that the propolis produced in Salinópolis can be a source of compounds with antioxidant activity, since the humidity and mineral residue levels are in accordance with the current legislation, while further studies are necessary for a possible standardization and use of this type of propolis as aherbal medicine.