Propolis, a resinous matter collected by Apis mellifera bees from exudates of plants, exhibits different biological properties, such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant activities. Standardization of the extraction of their bioactive compounds is a complex issue in particular for rural regions in developing countries due to the need for specialized equipment and personnel. Herein, kinetic extractions by maceration over 7 days were compared with ultrasound and supercritical fluids extractions in terms of the polyphenolic content obtained. Ultrasound showed the fastest kinetic extraction for each propolis without affecting the antioxidant activity. Supercritical fluids showed the lowest polyphenolic content recovery and no selectivity for antioxidant activity, in agreement with the solubility predictions. The main difference among the extraction methods was the extraction time required to reach the equilibrium concentration. No significant differences in selectivity were observed for the different methods. The antioxidant activity remained almost constant with the extraction method and extraction time, indicating similar extraction kinetics for the extracted polyphenols. We found that the physicochemical characteristics and UVvis spectra could be used as predictors of the polyphenolic contents for the studied samples.

Magíster en Ingeniería

Maestría