Chemical composition and antimycoplasma activity of a brown propolis from southern Brazil

Extracts of a sample of brown propolis produced in the district of Itapará (Southern Brazil) were obtained with solvents with increasing polarity. The extracts were analyzed by RPHPLC–DAD–ESI–MS/MS and evaluated toward activity against Mycoplasma bovis , M. gallisepticum , M. genitalium , M. hominis , M. hyorinis , M. penetrans and M. pneumonieae . Typical components of “alecrim-do-campo” propolis (e.g. prenylated phenylpropanoids and caffeoyl-quinic acids) were characterized in the analyzed extraccts, in addition to several flavonols. Less polar extracts showed higher anti-mycoplasma activity (MIC value commonly 3.9 μg/mL) than alcoholic and aqueous extracts (MIC value often 7.8–250 μg/mL). The results indicate that Itapará propolis is a promising source for the development of therapeutic drugs.