Comparative study of the antiviral activity of Scaptotrigona aff postica propolis in different months

• Grant number: 24/20923-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal Investigator: Ronaldo Zucatelli Mendonca
• Grantee: Nicolly Maria Pinheiro dos Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The limited availability of antiviral drugs for new high-pathogenicity virus strains has become a serious public health problem, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people annually. For this reason, the search for new products against these agents has become an urgent need. Many studies have been conducted with this goal. Among the multiple sources of research on new antibiotics and antivirals, bioprospecting from insect exudates or their products has become an increasingly common option.Currently, propolis is considered one of the most valuable natural products. With the considerable increase in the demand for natural products, the apiculture products market has been growing worldwide. Propolis has been used by humans for millennia, with records of its use dating back to civilizations as diverse as the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman, who used it as a healing substance and as a preservative for embalming cadavers. Additionally, other cultures-from traditional Arab medicine to pre-Columbian civilizations like the Inca-also used propolis as a traditional medicine.Given its historical use, propolis has garnered significant interest in scientific research due to its diverse applications, attracting attention for its nutritional and pharmacological properties. In recent times, there has been increased interest in alternative natural products in response to the emergence of bacteria resistant to traditional antimicrobials, the appearance of new viral strains with major public health impacts, and for use in inflammatory, antitumor, and wound-healing processes.One of the great advantages of using propolis is that it is harmless for consumption, with no adverse effects. In light of recent viral epidemics and pandemics, the development of new effective and safe antiviral products has become urgent.Commercial propolis, widely used by the population, generally comes from Apis mellifera bees, usually from monoculture regions, which limits its chemical variability. In previous projects, we described the action of substances present in the propolis of Scaptotrigona postica, a native bee from the Amazon region, against various viruses of public health interest. This propolis demonstrated potent antiviral activity against all studied viruses, whether human or animal. While Apis mellifera propolis comes from monoculture areas, the propolis of Scaptotrigona postica originates from a pre-Amazon forest region rich in botanical diversity, which implies a much broader range of chemical substances. Our chemical analysis of this propolis in prior studies revealed this great richness of chemical compounds.This fact significantly enhances the pharmacological potential of the native propolis and the chances of developing a high-quality new product that can aid in combating new viral epidemics. However, there is considerable variation in the chemical composition of propolis throughout different months, according to the seasonal flowering. This chemical variation profoundly affects the product's pharmacological activities. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the monthly chemical composition and antiviral activity of propolis, to establish the best season for extracting the product. Determining the best time for propolis harvest will increase the feasibility of developing a new pharmaceutical product.