Pharmacognostic evaluation of geopropolis of Melipona fsciculata Smith from Baixada Maranhense, Brazil

Pharmacognostic evaluation of geopropolis of Melipona fasciculata Smith from Baixada Maranhense, Brazil. Melipona fasciculata Smith is a native, social, stingless bee species that produces wax, honey and geopropolis. This work aimed to do a pharmacological evaluation of Melipona fasciculata geopropolis, collected in beehives in the municipal districts of Arari, Sao Bento and Sao Joao Batista, in Baixada maranhense, in the state of Maranhao, Brazil, seeking to obtain basis for the quality control and standardization of the product. The methodology used included the accomplishment of sensorial analyses, chemical approach, chromatographic profiles and determination of the flavonoids contents. The results demonstrate that the geopropolis have organoleptic characteristics similar to the ones found for the propolis of Apis mellifera, presence of phenolic compounds in larger concentration, besides substances of the class of the terpenes and saponins and absence of alkaloids, The chromatographic profiles indicated that the composition and concentration of the chemical substances are different among the samples. The flavonoids contents ranged between 0.17 - 2.6%. The content for most of the samples presented values above the minimum demanded by the Brazilian legislation for propolis of Apis mellifera. The found data suggest that the qualitative and quantitative variations of flavonoids and other chemical substances in geopropolis are strongly affected for the flora visited by the bees, geographical area and environmental factors.