Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 20 No 2 (2016): 413 - 422

 

 

 

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF MALAYSIAN STINGLESS BEE PROPOLIS EXTRACTS

 

(Analysis Kimia dan Biologi Ekstrak Propolis Lebah Kelulut Malaysia)

 

Nurhamizah Ibrahim¹*, Nurul Farah Shakila Mohd Niza¹, Muhammad Muslim Mohd Rodi², Abdul Jamil Zakaria², Zhari Ismail³, Khamsah Suryati Mohd^1,2

 

¹School of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry

²Agriculture Production and Food Innovation Research Institute (AGROPOLIS UniSZA)

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Tembila Campus, 22200 Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia

³School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,

Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: caldinamiez@gmail.com

 

 

Received: 14 April 2015; Accepted: 30 November 2015

 

 

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate chemical and biological profile of methanol extracts from Malaysian propolis produced by two commonly found stingless bee species, Heterotrigona itama (MHI) and Geniotrigona thoracica (MGT). Test samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as moisture, fat, crude fibre, crude protein, carbohydrate and ash content. Tests for phytochemical screening by thin layer chromatography of both extracts revealed that presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols and essential oils but steroids, saponin and coumarins only occur in MHI. Both extracts displayed a characteristic profile and vary from each other. Accordingly, MHI possess higher antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ of 15.0 ± 0.21 ug/mL compared to MGT with IC₅₀ of 270.0 ± 0.19 ug/mL. MHI showed moderate nitric oxide scavenging activity, while MGT only showed mild inhibition. Antidiabetic activity was determined by α-glucosidase inhibition and found significantly better than that of acarbose (positive control). In conclusion, data gathered in this study revealed that bee species play role in determining the chemical and biological profile of particular propolis and should put into account in decision of further development for propolis.

 

Keywords:  physico-chemical, phytochemical, TLC profiling, antioxidant, antidiabetic

 

Abstrak

Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menilai profil kimia dan biologi ekstrak metanol propolis dari Malaysia yang dihasilkan oleh dua species lebah kelulut yang biasa dijumpai, Heterotrigona itama (MHI) dan Geniotrigona thoracica (MGT). Sampel telah dianalisis untuk parameter fizikokimia seperti kelembapan, lemak, serat kasar, protein mentah, karbohidrat dan kandungan abu. Pemeriksaan keatas analisis fitokimia menggunakan kromatografi lapisan nipis untuk kedua-dua ekstrak menunjukkan kehadiran terpenoid, flavonoid dan minyak pati tetapi steroid, saponin dan coumarin hanya wujud dalam MHI. Kedua – dua ekstrak menunjukkan profil yang berbeza antara satu sama lain. Sehubungan itu juga, MHI mempunyai aktiviti antioksidan yang lebih tinggi dengan IC₅₀ 15.0 ± 0.21 ug/mL berbanding MGT (270.0 ± 0.19 ug/mL). MHI menunjukkan aktiviti perencatan nitrik oksida yang sederhana, sementara MGT menunjukkan perencatan yang sedikit sahaja. Aktiviti antidiabetik telah ditentukan menggunakan perencatan α-glukosida dan didapati lebih baik secara signifikan daripada acarbose (kawalan positif). Kesimpulannya, data yang dikutip dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa spesies lebah memainkan peranan dalam menentukan profil kimia dan biologi propolis tertentu dan perlu dipertimbangkan dalam membuat keputusan untuk pembangunan propolis.

 

Kata Kunci: fisikokimia, fitokimia, profil KLN, antioksidan, antidiabetik 

 

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