Abstract

Propolis ("bee-glue") is a gummy resinous substance elaborated by honey bees (Apis mellifera) from different types of plant resins. The chemical composition of propolis is very complex and variable as it depends on the botanical source and the environmental conditions prevailing at the location where the resin is collected by bees. The objective [corrected] of this study was to determine the propolis organoleptic and physicochemical properties of different types in the Province of Nuble (VIII Región, Chile). Samples were collected at different sites located in the Central Valley, ranging from the coast to the mountain skirts. Analyses included humidity, ashes, wax content, total phenolics content, total flavonoids, mechanical impurities, oxidation time, and solubility in ethanol. Results showed that propolis extracts from coastal sites are better quality than those collected at mountain skirts, and these in turn are better than propolis obtained from the Central Valley. All propolis analyzed in this study can be classified according to the Brazilian norm as high flavonoid content. The same homogeneity is observed in the amounts of total phenolics found in the samples. In general terms, properties of the propolis samples analyzed fulfill the quality requirements of the current international standards.