The correlation between botanical source and the biologically active compounds of propolis

In this research, five propolis samples collected from Turkey were investigated to observe the correlation between botanical sources and chemical contents of the samples and in this way emphasize the influence of botanical sources of propolis on its chemical characterization. As a first step, to determine the botanical sources of the samples, microscopic analysis was performed. According to the microscopic analysis results; two samples that were collected from Rize (P1 and P2), were characterized as most probably being chesnut propolis; while one sample collected from Tekirdag (P3) was evaluated as being a mixed type, in the other Tekirdag sample (P4), the pollens belonging to the taxa of the Brassicaceae family were found as dominant. The sample collected from Sivas (P5); was also recognized as mixed type. The second step of the research was the chemical analyses of the propolis samples. According to the results; the balsamic contents of the propolis samples ranged between 59.97 and 83.31%, total phenolic contents were ranged between 27.56[+ or -]0.05 and 171.93[+ or -]0.28 mgGAE/g. The minimum flavone and flavonol content of 0.28[+ or -]0.01% was found in the P1 sample described as chesnut propolis and colected from Rize. The maximum value 5.1[+ or -]0.07% was found in the P4 sample as was total phenolic content. Flavanones and Dihydroflavonols contents varied between 6.58[+ or -]0.009-12.94[+ or -]0.007%. According to the GC-MS results the investigated samples contained compounds belonging to the various groups. With regard to the Excel correlation, the balsamic content showed a negative correlation with total phenolic content, flavone and flavonol content, flavanones and dihydroflavonols content. Keywords: Propolis, chestnut, microscopic, total phenolic, UV-Vis, GC-MS