Brazilian propolis of Tetragonisca angustula and Apis mellifera

Abstract

Using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in negative ion mode, ESI(-)-MS, we characterized and compared the composition of both Tetragonisca angustula (Jataí) and Apis mellifera (honey bee) propolis from different regions in Brazil. The ESI(-)-MS fingerprints show that the composition of A. mellifera propolis is highly region-dependent, whereas that of T. angustula propolis is nearly constant through the country, as was confirmed by principal component analysis. The constant chemical composition of T. angustula propolis is explained by the collection of resins preferentially from Schinus terebenthifolius, a plant source found throughout Brazil. This single source was determined via comparison of the components of the T. angustula propolis samples with that of plant extracts. © INRA/DIB-AGIB/ EDP Sciences, 2006.