Investigation of solubility of Turkish propolis in different solvents

Investigation of Solubility of Turkish Propolis in Different SolventsPropolis is a sticky, resinous natural product collected by honeybees from variousplant sources. Phenolic compounds such as flavonoids are mainly responsible for thebiological activity of propolis. Flavonoids are also responsible for antioxidant activity whichis principally based on their radical scavenging effects. In this study, a major aim is toinvestigate which solvent is the best for the solubility of the propolis by using concentrationsof total polyphenols and flavonoids, assays of ferric reducing power and total antioxidantstatus in extracts of Turkish propolis prepared with water, ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO), glycerol and acetone. In addition, propolis samples were lyophilized in samesolvents except that glycerol and acetone. Same analyses were carried out in lyophilizedpropolis samples. Each extract of propolis was also analysed qualitatively by HPLC method.Total concentrations of polyphenols and flavonoids, ferric reducing power and totalantioxidant status of both normal and lyophilized extracts were found to be agree with eachother. In HPLC analysis, peaks seen with DMSO and acetone were similar, and those of withethanol and glycerol were also similar. In water extract of propolis, principally one peak wasobserved. It was concluded that propolis solubility was found to be greatest in DMSO, andethanol, acetone, glycerol and water, respectively.Key Words: Propolis, flavonoid, extract, solvent, HPLC