Propolis is made by bees from a combination of plant resins, wax, and saliva. It is used in the hive as a building material, disinfectant, and embalming agent. Propolis has many reported health benefits for humans, due to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Multiple factors impact the composition of propolis, including location, the season of harvest, local flora, and species of bee. Mexico is a major honey producer, with production in Yucatán, Campeche, Jalisco, and Chiapas; each region producing propolis which contains a variety of active compounds. This study assessed the antioxidant properties of five samples of propolis from two states in Mexico.

Propolis samples were collected from five regions in Mexico; four from the state of Chiapas (1-4), and one from the state of Yucatán (5). Samples 1, 2, 3, and 5 were collected from Apis mellifera bee breeders, while sample 4 was collected from a wild colony…