Abstract
Propolis is a resinous
natural product collected by bees (Apis
mellifera) from tree exudates which is widely used in folk medicine1.
Reports on Jordanian Propolis reveal the presence of new chemical compound
4(Z)-1-3-dihydroxyeupha-7,24-dien-26-oic acid2 along with other
compounds like pinobanksin-3-O-acetate,
pinocemberin, chrysin3 and lignoceric acid2. The
present study was carried out to investigate the fatty acid composition,
antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibition activity of Jordanian Propolis,
collected from Al-Ghour region. The hexane extract of Jordanian Propolis
contains different fatty acids, which are reported first time, using GC-FID. The
major fatty acid identified were palmitic acid (44.5%), Oleic acid (18:1∆9cis, 24.6%), Arachidic acid (7.4%), Stearic acid (5.4%),
linoleic acid (18:2∆9-12cis, 3.1%), caprylic acid
(2.9%), lignoceric acid (2.6%), cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid (20:2∆11-14cis, 2.4%), palmitoleic
acid (1.5%), cis-11-eicosenoic acid (1.2%), α–linolenic acid (18:3∆9-12-15cis, 1.1%), cis-13,16-docosadienoic acid (22:2∆13-16cis, 1.0%), along with
minor constituents like saturated fatty acids. Antioxidant properties of the
hexane extract were determined via DPPH radical scavenging, β-carotene
bleaching assay and NO scavenging assay. The extract produced significant
antioxidant activity in-vitro. The
extract also exhibit appreciable xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity in-vitro.