Chemical composition of Italian propolis of different ecoregional origin

The aim of this work was studying and identifying the main physicochemical properties and active constituents in Italian propolis derived from resident hives throughout the peninsula. The data, potentially useful to establish important propolis quality criteria, were compared to those typical of poplar type propolis and used to build a classification model to link the propolis characteristics to its ecoregion of origin. HPLC-ESI-TQ MS was used to quantify twenty-one phenolic compounds in propolis extracts. Considering the bioactive substances and the antioxidant activity, statistically significant characteristics can distinguish propolis from the considered Italian ecoregions: Mediterranean and temperate division and, due to the high presence of poplar trees, the Po plain province as part of temperate division. Chrysin is the most abundant flavonoid in all the samples followed by galangin and pinocembrin. Regarding phenolic acids the samples from temperate and Mediterranean ecoregions are characterized by high amount of ferulic and isoferulic acids.