Argentinean Propolis from Zuccagnia punctata Cav. (Caesalpinieae) Exudates: Phytochemical Characterization and Antifungal Activity

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2010-01, Vol.58 (1), p.194-201
• Main Authors: Agüero, María Belén, Gonzalez, Mariela, Lima, Beatriz, Svetaz, Laura, Sánchez, Marianela, Zacchino, Susana, Feresin, Gabriela Egly, Schmeda-Hirschmann, Guillermo, Palermo, Jorge, Wunderlin, Daniel, Tapia, Alejandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; antifungal properties; Argentina; Arthrodermataceae - drug effects; Bioactive Constituents; Biological and medical sciences; chemical analysis; chemical composition; Fabaceae - chemistry; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; phytochemicals; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; plant exudates; propolis; Propolis - chemistry; Propolis - pharmacology; provenance; Yeasts - drug effects; Zuccagnia; Zuccagnia punctata
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf902991t

This paper reports the in vitro antifungal activity of propolis extracts from the province of Tucumán (Argentina) as well as the identification of their main antifungal compounds and botanical origin. The antifungal activity was determined by the microdilution technique, using reference microorganisms and clinical isolates. All dermatophytes and yeasts tested were strongly inhibited by different propolis extracts (MICs between 16 and 125 μg mL−1). The most susceptible species were Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Trichophyton rubrum. The main bioactive compounds were 2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methoxychalcone 2 and 2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone 3. Both displayed strong activity against clinical isolates of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes (MICs and MFCs between 1.9 and 2.9 μg mL−1). Additionally, galangin 5, pinocembrin 6, and 7-hydroxy-8-methoxyflavanone 9 were isolated from propolis samples and Zuccagnia punctata exudates, showing moderate antifungal activity. This is the first study matching the chemical profile of Z. punctata Cav. exudates with their corresponding propolis, giving strong evidence on the botanical origin of the studied propolis.