Baccharis dracunculifolia: bee pasture formation, study of interactions with Apis mellifera and galling insects in the production of green propolis

• Grant number: 15/04148-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2015
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Jairo Kenupp Bastos
• Grantee: Debora Munhoz Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The plant kingdom stands out in singularity of biologically active secondary metabolites with diversity mechanisms of action. Baccharis dracunculifolia is a perennial shrub popularly known as "alecrim do campo" or "vassourinha" and stands out as the main botanical source for the production of green propolis, besides its rich interaction with galling insects. Propolis produced by Apis mellifera from B. dracunculifolia contains a complex and varied chemical composition rich in prenylated p-coumaric acid derivatives, such as artepillin C, which displays important pharmacological activities, and has drawn international interest. The ecological relationship between plants and galling insects causes structural and metabolic changes in host plants. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the chemical correlation between galling insects, Apis mellifera, and B. dracunculifolia in the production of green propolis. This study will contribute to form bee pastures to increase both quality and productivity of the hive products. For that, 32 plants, being 16 female and 16 male will be studied, and each sex gender will be divided into two groups of eight plants, bearing high and low gall infestation, respectively. Samples from plants, galls and propolis will be analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) to quantify its volatiles and phenolic compounds, respectively. The viable galls will be sampled and grown to identify the galling insects. The results of this project may lead to the selection of good plant individuals to be cultivated for bee pasture formation highly visited by bees to increase the production of green propolis. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RODRIGUES, DEBORA MUNHOZ; DE SOUZA, MARCELO CLARO; ARRUDA, CAROLINE; PEREIRA, RODRIGO AUGUSTO SANTINELO; BASTOS, JAIRO KENUPP. The Role of Baccharis dracunculifolia and its Chemical Profile on Green Propolis Production by Apis mellifera. Journal of Chemical Ecology, v. 46, n. 2, DEC 2019. (17/04138-8, 15/04148-8)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

RODRIGUES, Debora Munhoz. Baccharis dracunculifolia: Bee pasture formation, study of interactions with Apis mellifera and galling insects in the production of green propolis. 2017. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.