Profiling propolis flavonoids by means of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, capillary gas chromatography and bactericidal action

There is no proportional correlation between increasing organic solvent pol arity from hexane to methanol and the extractability of propolis solids by the solvents or the bactericidal action of the propolis extracts obtained. Hexane (177%) and chloroform (62.1%) were the poorest and the best extracta nts, respectively for propolis solids. The antibiotic activity of the extra cts against Staphylococcus strains decreased in the order hexane greater th an or equal to ethanol > methanol. Different capillary GC profiles were obt ained for persilyl derivatives of propolis extracted with hexane and methan ol and for propolis collected in different Brazilian provinces suggesting t he influence of flora variability on propolis composition. Wavelength-selec ted DAD detection revealed MEKC to be an innovative and sensitive method fo r monitoring the occurrence in propolis of the flavonoids and phenolcarboxy lic acids thought to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of propo lis.