Comb and propolis waxes from Brazil (states of São Paulo and Paraná)

• Main Authors: Negri Giuseppina, Marcucci Cristina, Salatino Antonio, Salatino Maria Luiza F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Química 2000-01-01
• Series: Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society
• Subjects: propolis wax; beeswax; Apis mellifera
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-50532000000500004

Samples of propolis and comb waxes of Apis mellifera were analyzed. Monoesters predominated, followed by hydrocarbons. The constituents were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Wide variations in the patterns of hydrocarbons, acids and alcohols of the esters were found. Hydrocarbon chains cover the range C23 - C35, C27 and C31 alkanes predominating. The main carboxylic acid was C16:0, followed by C18:0 and C18:1. The alcohols were predominantly saturated n-homologues, ranging from C24 to C32, C30 being the most abundant, followed by C24. No differences were found to allow a distinction, suggesting a common origin for both wax sources.