Chemical and biological studies of propolis and its origin plants

蜂胶是蜜蜂从各种植物中收集的一种可吸收物质。本文对甘草及其原植物的化学成分和生物活性进行了研究。在日本，巴西人广泛使用。为了直接鉴定巴西蜂胶的植物来源，我们观察了巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州的蜜蜂，并对蜜蜂使用的植物进行了化学分析。初步鉴定了巴西野菊花的植物来源。此外，我们研究了来自日本不同地区的大豆的抗氧化活性。采用高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术，结合光电二极管阵列（PDA）检测器，对枸杞子乙醇提取物（EEP）中的主要成分进行了鉴定，并对各成分进行了定量分析。秋田和冲绳的EEP具有较强的抗氧化活性，且与总多酚含量相关。来自秋田（Minakiakita）的蜂胶含有大量的抗氧化化合物，咖啡酸和咖啡酸苯乙酯。来自冲绳的蜂胶含有其他地区蜂胶所没有的抗氧化剂。这些抗氧化剂的分离和光谱方法鉴定为新的异戊二烯化黄酮类化合物。另外，我们还研究了韩国泡菜的抗氧化活性。并进一步研究了黄芪中各成分的吸收和代谢。本研究采用高效液相色谱-质谱联用仪（HPLC-PDA）和质谱联用仪（MS）对大鼠口服EEP后的血浆和尿液进行分析，并检测出EEP中的几种黄酮类化合物。

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources. We studied the constituents and biological activities of propolis and its origin plants. In Japan, Brazilian propolis is widely used. To identify the plant origin of Brazilian propolis directly, we observed of honeybees in Minas Gerais State of Brazil and analyzed chemically the plant used by honeybees. We identified that plant origin of Brazilian propolis is Baccharis dracunculifolia. Further we examined the antioxidant activity of propolis from various areas of Japan. We identified the major constituents in ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP) by HPLC analysis by a photodiode array (PDA) and mass spectrometric (MS) detection, and quantitatively analyzed each component. EEP from Akita (Minamiakita) and Okinawa had relatively strong antioxidant activity, and was correlated with total polyphenol contents. Propolis from Akita (Minakiakita) contained large amounts of the antioxidative compounds, caffeic acid and phenethyl caffeate. Propolis from Okinawa had antioxidants not seen in propolis from other areas. These antioxidants were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods to be novel prenylated flavonoids. Also concerning with Korean propolis, we examined the antioxidant activity. Further we investigated the absorption and metabolism of the components in propolis. We administered EEP orally to rats and analyzed their plasma and urine by HPLC with PDA and MS detection, and detected several flavonoids in it. On the other hand, we proved that honeybees use different origin plants by seasons.