**3. Results**

For review, only articles containing analyses of evaluation of the antioxidant activity of bee products from Brazil, between 2011 and 2016, were selected. As shown in **Figure 1**, the num‐ ber of published works on bee products is relevant. However, it is clear that the rate of work on this issue in Brazil is low.

The results obtained with the application of the described search strategy are presented in the logical framework of the study (**Figure 1**).

**Figure 1.** Logical framework of the systematic review, studies about evaluation of the antioxidant activity of bee products in Brazil between the years 2011 and 2016.

**Table 1** presents a summary of the studies assessed in this study.

Given the large number of articles published in this topic was observed, a compilation of data from all of these studies was necessary. We can highlight the following identified substances from the main antioxidant substances of apiculture products from Brazil: triterpene com‐ pounds of the cycloartane, ursane and oleanane types as the main compounds, in addition to phenolic acids, protocatechuic and gallic acids. It is also important to highlight the high anti‐ oxidant potential of geopropolis from Brazil. The works presented here identified the fol‐ lowing substances with antioxidant capacity: gallic acid, ellagic acid, catechin, gallocatechin, hesperidin, kaempferol, luteolin, morin, naringin, naringenin and rutin. Analysis of honey also shows the presence of antioxidant substances, especially gallic acid.


The results obtained with the application of the described search strategy are presented in the

logical framework of the study (**Figure 1**).

6 Superfood and Functional Food - An Overview of Their Processing and Utilization

**Table 1** presents a summary of the studies assessed in this study.

products in Brazil between the years 2011 and 2016.

also shows the presence of antioxidant substances, especially gallic acid.

Given the large number of articles published in this topic was observed, a compilation of data from all of these studies was necessary. We can highlight the following identified substances from the main antioxidant substances of apiculture products from Brazil: triterpene com‐ pounds of the cycloartane, ursane and oleanane types as the main compounds, in addition to phenolic acids, protocatechuic and gallic acids. It is also important to highlight the high anti‐ oxidant potential of geopropolis from Brazil. The works presented here identified the fol‐ lowing substances with antioxidant capacity: gallic acid, ellagic acid, catechin, gallocatechin, hesperidin, kaempferol, luteolin, morin, naringin, naringenin and rutin. Analysis of honey

**Figure 1.** Logical framework of the systematic review, studies about evaluation of the antioxidant activity of bee



**No. Reference Objectives Main results/conclusions**

It was established that G12 propolis has a high content of total flavonoid and phenolic compounds, which gives it an excellent quality according to the Brazilian legislation.

From 36 analyzed samples of honey, the presence of 13 phenolic compounds and three unidentified compounds (Ph1, Ph2 and Ph3) was observed. For most of the honeys, major compounds identified as gallic acid and quercetin were analyzed. The AC and ACP methods were able to distinguish the phenolic composition of the analyzed honeys for the species studied. This factor that indicates possible selectivity of the species in relation to the botanical origin of honeys. In general, analyzed honeys showed significant antioxidant activity, especially the darker honeys which also had

Reasonable stability was noted and the preferred formula was the one that used combination of propolis extract with tocopheryl acetate.

It was noted that the DPPH• and FRAP values are dependent on the propolis concentration and the water/ethanol proportion used in the extraction. This correlation was also observed in phenolic

The botanical origin of propolis samples is difficult to ascertain on the basis of only one palynological analysis and a more definite confirmation depends of analysis comparing the chemical profile of the samples with the chemical profile of resins and extracts from plants found near the hives. It should be stressed that red propolis has been suggested as being the only propolis type derived from a plant from the leguminosae family (*D. ecastaphyllum*), rich in inisoflavones such as genistein and formononetin. Although flavonoids exhibit pleiotropic activity affecting several different targets and the synergistic effects cannot be discarded, our results suggest that the isoflavone formononetin is responsible at least partially for the antimicrobial activity of red propolis.

It was concluded that the analyzed propolis has a promising phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Three phenolic acids derived from hydroxycinnamic acid were identified, common in

Brazilian propolis.

higher levels of polyphenol.

contents and flavonoid contents.

whether there is positive correlation between the identity and quality criteria for propolis and the biological activities exhibited by the

of phenolic acids and flavonoids using solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography reversed‐ phase (RP‐HPLC) and conduct study of antioxidant activity in honeys from three different species of bees *A. mellifera* (Africanized) exotic species, *Melipona flavolineata* (yellow uruçu) and *M. fasciculata* (gray uruçu) native species. The honey samples were obtained from four Pará State

were to produce and evaluate a propolis extract for use in skin care

antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts of propolis prepared using hydrous ethanol with different ethanol/water contents and different

propolis concentrations.

against *Candida sp.*

performing a bioassay‐guided fractionation of red propolis samples from Igarassu (Pernambuco, Brazil) in order to determine the main constituents associated with its antimicrobial activity, especially

the extraction process of bioactive compounds, evaluate antioxidant activity and also conduct the chemical characterization of propolis, using the high performance liquid chromatography technique.

06 [1] This study aimed at verifying

extracts of propolis.

8 Superfood and Functional Food - An Overview of Their Processing and Utilization

07 [19] Identify the chromatographic profile

municipalities.

08 [20] The objectives of the present study

products.

09 [21] Comparison between the

10 [22] The present work aimed at

11 [23] This work aims at optimization

**Table 1.** Reference, objective, main results and conclusions, studies about evaluation of the antioxidant activity of bee products in Brazil between the years 2011 and 2016.

In addition, with respect to methods of extraction and preparation of propolis extracts, the composition of propolis extracts varies with the concentration of propolis, especially with the water/ethanol content of hydrous ethanol used in the extraction. Oldoni et al. observed the influence of standardization of extraction. The results of their study confirmed that the opti‐ mization of the extraction conditions is important to obtain extracts that are rich in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of propolis [23].

Since propolis has great chemical diversity, it needs to be chemically standardized before use to ensure quality, efficacy and safety and this way, it is possible to correlate the type of propolis and its therapeutic application, an essential task for a growing market and more demanding throughout the world. Brazil is a pioneer in these practices, since it is considered one of the world's biggest suppliers of bee products [3, 11–13].

Brazilian propolis were classified in the most prevalent types, resulting in 12 groups or types based on their geographical origin, chemical composition and plant origin: five in the south, one in the southeast and six in the northeast. A new type of propolis from a mangrove region from the State of Alagoas had its botanical origin identified as Dalbergiaecastophyllum, a species of legume and was ranked as the 13th type of northeast Brazilian propolis. These findings confirm the great Brazilian biodiversity that has become the subject of several scientific research studies throughout the world [3, 12, 13, 30, 31].

In this context, it is important to note that the evaluation of propolis samples from different geographical and climatic regions means that there are variations in the chemical composi‐ tion and, therefore, biological activities may differ. Thus, when performing pharmacological studies, we should not indiscriminately compare propolis samples from different regions, neither assign a proven activity in a given sample to other samples from different regions. For this reason, publications on evidence of biological activities should include the physical and chemical characterization of the used propolis [32].

Moreover, there is smaller variation in the chemical composition of propolis found in temper‐ ate regions of the planet, where its main bioactive compounds are flavonoids: apigenin, quer‐ cetin, hesperetin, rutin, luteolin, genistein, daidzein, anthocyanidin, kaempferol, among others. Although flavonoids are the most extensively studied components of propolis, they are not the only ones responsible for their pharmacological properties. Several other com‐ pounds have been linked to its medicinal properties [12, 13, 24].
