A simple and inexpensive procedure for detection of a marker of Brazilian alecrim propolis

Abstract

The detection of marker compounds is a necessary step for chemical characterization and standardization of propolis. A thin-layer chromatography procedure is described for the detection of allyl 3-prenylcinnamate, a volatile marker of Brazilian green propolis. The powdered sample is heated inside a petri dish and the material condensed on the dish cap is chromatographed on silica gel plates. The visualization may be done by spraying the plates with a solution of sodium fluorescein or a solution of sulphuric acid vanillin reagent.

La detección de compuestos marcadores es un paso necesario para la caracterización química y la estandarización de los propóleos. Un procedimiento de analisis por cromatografia de capa fina se describe para la detección de 3-alilprenilcinamato, un marcador volátil del propóleo verde brasileño. Una muestra en polvo se calienta en el interior de una placa de Petri. Los materiales que se condensan en la tapa se cromatografian sobre placas de gel de sílice. La visualización se hace pulverizando las placas con una solución de fluoresceína de sodio o del reactivo vainillina/ácido sulfúrico.

Keywords:

• TLC
• allyl 3-prenylcinnamate
• authentication
• Brazilian green propolis

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Adne A Righi for provision of a sample of Brazilian red propolis and FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) for provision of funds. AS and MLFS are fellow researchers of CNPq (Conselho Nacional do Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo).