Volatile Constituents of Propolis Vary

Volatile Constituents of Propolis from Honey Bees and Stingless Bees from Yucatán
Journal of Essential Oil Research, Jan/Feb

Abstract: Volatiles of propolis from honey bees and stingless bees from Yucatán were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Ninety-nine volatiles were identified in the propolis from honey bees, whereas 94 were identified in stingless bees' propolis. It was found that in addition to yield variance of 16 and 465 mg/kg depending upon origin, the propolis could be differentiated by their chemical composition. In particular, upon the common constituents, α-pinene, β-pinene, trans-verbenol, α-copaene, β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide, which were found in higher content in the propolis from stingless bees.