Chemical profiling and anti-trypanosomal activity of propolis samples from Nigeria

Propolis from different parts of Nigeria were investigated for their chemical composition and bioactivity against Trypanosoma brucei. Extracts from 14 samples were profiled using various analytical techniques. Principal component analysis was used to characterize the samples according to their chemical composition. The samples demonstrated uniqueness in chemical composition. Two samples, one from Rivers State (red in colour) and another from Imo State Nigeria (green in colour) had different appearances from the rest of the samples which were all brown. The chemical composition of the Nigerian red propolis was comparable to that of Brazilian red propolis. Several compounds including novel ones were isolated and characterized from the samples using spectroscopic methods. Stilbenes from the Nigerian green propolis is reported for the first time.