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

Extracts of a sample of brown propolis produced in the district of Itapara (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 mu g/mL) than alcoholic and aqueous extracts (MIC value often 7.8-250 mu g/mL). The results indicate that Itapara propolis is a promising source for the development of therapeutic drugs.