Abstract:
Because propolis contains many types of antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids, it can be useful in preventing oxidative damages. Ethyl acetate extracts of propolis from several Algerian regions show high activity by scavenging free radicals, preventing lipid peroxidation and inhibiting myeloperoxidase (MPO).
By fractioning and assaying ethyl acetate extracts, it was observed that both polyphenols
and flavonoids contribute to these activities. A correlation was observed between the
polyphenol content and the MPO inhibition. However, it seems that kaempferol, a
flavonoid, contributes mainly to the MPO inhibition. This molecule is in a high amount in
the ethyl acetate extract and demonstrates the best efficiency towards the enzyme with an inhibiting concentration at 50% of 4 ± 2 μM.
