Apidologie 37 (2006) 398-407
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2006011

Brazilian Propolis of Tetragonisca angustula and Apis mellifera

Alexandra C.H.F. Sawaya^a, Ildenize B.S. Cunha^b, Maria C. Marcucci^c, Rosa F. de Oliveira Rodrigues^b and Marcos N. Eberlin<sup>a

a</sup>  Thomson Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil
^b  São Francisco University, USF, Bragança Paulista, SP, Brazil
^c  Bandeirante University of São Paulo, UNIBAN, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

(Received 25 August 2005 - revised 24 October 2005 - accepted 1 November 2005 - published online 10 March 2006)

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.

Key words: propolis / electrospray ionization mass spectrometry / Tetragonisca angustula / Apis mellifera / Schinus terebenthifolius

Corresponding author: Alexandra C.H.F. Sawaya franksawaya@terra.com.br

© INRA, DIB-AGIB, EDP Sciences 2006