Biochemical activities of propolis extracts. I. Standardization and antioxidative properties of ethanolic and aqueous derivatives.

Ethanolic extracts of Propolis are used as antiinflammatory and wound healing drugs since ancient times. In order to facilitate a comparison of different extracts, the standardization on the basis of quantitative determination of prominent components of these extracts has been substituted for simple biochemical "activity" tests. One of these activity tests bases on the inhibition of peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of indole acetic acid indicating the presence of a defined mixture of monophenolic and diphenolic compounds. Other tests (diaphorase-catalyzed reductions and xanthine oxidase-catalyzed oxidations) demonstrate significant radical scavenging properties. Water-soluble extracts of propolis exhibit higher antioxidative and inhibitory activities as compared to the ethanolic extract.