Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of propolis from Venezuela

The antioxidant activity of three propolis samples from Venezuela (V-1, V-2, and V-3) was studied and their chemical composition was analysed by GC-MS. We proved that the extracts from the propolis samples acted as effective inhibitors during triacylglycerols of lard autoxidation at 100 degrees C. The effect of V-2 and V-3 was higher (1.5-fold) than that of V-1. The antioxidative activity might be connected, at least partially, to the presence of prenylated benzophenones in the samples, indicated by GC-MS.