Artepillin-C from Baccharis dracunculifolia

Propolis is a hive product containing chiefly beeswax and plant-derived substances such as resin and volatile compounds. Propolis has been used as an antiseptic and wound healer since ancient times and interest for the product has increased recently. Probably few plant species contribute as major resin sources. Green propolis derives mainly from vegetative apices of Baccharis dracunculifolia (alecrim plants). However, wide variation detected in the chemical composition suggests contributions from alternative resin plant sources. Predominant components of the resin of green propolis are cinnamic acids, chiefly compounds bearing prenyl groups. Terpenoid compounds, such as sesqui, di and pentacyclic triterpenoids, have been detected in many, but not all, samples investigated. Propolis research has uncovered potentialities of substances previously isolated from plants and has detected constituents of plant origin that would hardly be known otherwise.

Propolis has been the subject of research aiming at the isolation of compounds and opening the possibility of development of sophisticated pharmaceutical products. One of the salient examples is artepillin C, a component of B. dracunculifolia and green propolis with strong anti-bacterial and anti-tumor activities. The next step in this line of research seems to be the laboratorial synthesis of the substances, starting from abundant and low-cost raw material, thus making their use economically feasible in pharmacy and medicine.

Keywords: africanized Apis mellifera – Baccharis dracunculifolia – flavonoids – prenylated phenylpropanoids – propolis – terpenoids