Chemical Characterization of 64 Propolis Samples from Hakkari, Turkey

Abstract

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honey bees from various plants they visit. Sixty-fourpropolis samples were collected from different localities of four districts (Merkez, Yüksekova, Şemdinli, andÇukurca) in Hakkari territory. Ethanol extracts of the propolis samples were prepared, and their chemicalcontents were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). Flavonoids were generallyfound in a high concentration in Şemdinli samples of Turkey. Twenty-seven coumarins were identified in the 28propolis samples among studied 64 ones. Except suberosin, the coumarins were never reported before in anypropolis sample with Turkish origin. The propolis samples belonging to Yüksekova were found to be richer incoumarins than the others, and the most richest one among the Yüksekova apiaries, was found to be Akocaksample (Y2) with 41.99% total yield, followed by Akçalı sample (Y5) (30.86%). This is a first comprehensiveand original report about the chemical profile of propolis samples from Hakkari. The propolis samples fromHakkari exhibited a chemical content rich in flavonoids including coumarins and furocoumarins.