Determination and Quantification of Gallic Acid in Raw Propolis by High-performance Liquid Chromatography–Diode Array Detector in Burundi

Abstract

Background:
Honey, pollen, and propolis are among the products that
bees process and derive from plants and flowers. Propolis is a resinous
material that bees gather from the buds and bark of some trees and small
plants. Propolis from temperate climates mainly contains phenolic
compounds, in contrast with propolis from tropical climates, which
mainly contains terpenes. This study aimed to determine, characterise,
and quantify the phenolic content of raw propolis from
Burundi.

Methods:
In this study, a total of 6 samples were collected from
the provinces of Rumonge, Cibitoke, and Ruyigi in Burundi. Fifteen
phenolic compounds (caffeic acid, ferulic acid, epigallocatechin
gallate, isoferulic acid, cinnamic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester,
gallic acid, apigenin, chrysin, galangin, quercetin, kaempherol, rutin
trihydrate, naringenin, and pinocembrin) were used as high-performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC) standards for qualitative and quantitative
analyses of the propolis samples.

Results: Among the 15
phenolic compounds checked, only 1 – gallic acid – was detected at a
measurable level using an HPLC-diode array detector system.

Conclusion: In addition
to terpenes, propolis found in sub-Saharan Africa may contain phenolic
compounds. Further advanced investigation of sub-Saharan African
propolis is required for more detailed
characterisation.