Rapid GC/MS determination of botanical precursors of Eurasian propolis

Abstract

In this work, ether extracts of propolises from 11 countries of Europe and Asia together with extracts of the buds of their principal plant precursors were prepared and investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For the first time, chemical compositions of the exudates of aspen, white birch and silver birch buds were determined. Basing on the data on the content of individual components and their groups, the method of rapid examination of plant precursors of propolis was developed. This new method is based on the use of a chromatogram for one extracted ion m/z=219, characteristic for a group of similar substances: phenylpropenoids. The I(T) retention indices of silylated derivatives of 449 substances registered in the buds of 6 species of trees and 37 samples of propolis extracts were calculated. These useful analytical parameters (majority of which are absent in the available databases) are attached in Supplementary information.

Keywords: Aspen; Birch; Plant precursors; Poplar; Propolis; Retention indices.