Propolis is used as folk medicine due to its spectrum of alleged biological and pharmaceutical properties and it is a complex matrix not still totally characterized. Two batches of propolis coming from two different environments (plains of Po Valley and the hilly Ligurian–Piedmont Apennines) of Northern Italy were characterized using different analytical methods: Spectrophotometric analysis of phenols, flavones and flavonols, and DPPH radical scavenging activity, HPLC, NMR, HSPME and GC–MS and HPLC–MS Orbitrap. Balsam and moisture content were also considered. No statistical differences were found at the spectrophotometric analysis; balsam content did not vary significantly. The most interesting findings were in the VOCs composition, with the Po Valley samples containing compounds of the resins from leaf buds of Populus nigra L. The hills (Appennines) samples were indeed characterize by the presence of phenolic glycerides already found in mountain environments. HPLC–Q-Exactive-Orbitrap®–MS analysis is crucial in appropriate recognition of evaluate number of metabolites, but also NMR itself could give more detailed information especially when isomeric compounds should be identified. It is necessary a standardized evaluation to protect and valorize this production and more research on propolis characterization using different analytical techniques.

中文翻译：

---

不同分析方法对蜂胶表征的有效性：以意大利北部为例

蜂胶因其所谓的生物和药物特性而被用作民间药物，并且它是一种复杂的基质，尚未完全表征。来自意大利北部两个不同环境（波谷平原和利古里亚山麓亚平宁山脉）的两批蜂胶使用不同的分析方法进行了表征：酚类、黄酮类和黄酮醇类的分光光度法分析以及 DPPH 自由基清除活性、HPLC、NMR 、HSPME 和 GC-MS 和 HPLC-MS Orbitrap。还考虑了香脂和水分含量。在分光光度分析中没有发现统计学差异；香脂含量没有显着变化。最有趣的发现是在 VOC 成分中，Po Valley 样品中含有来自 Populus nigra L 叶芽的树脂化合物。山丘（Appennines）样品的特征确实在于山地环境中已经发现的酚类甘油酯的存在。HPLC–Q-Exactive-Orbitrap®–MS 分析对于适当识别代谢物的评估数量至关重要，而且 NMR 本身也可以提供更详细的信息，尤其是在应鉴定异构化合物时。有必要进行标准化评估以保护和评估这种生产，并使用不同的分析技术对蜂胶表征进行更多研究。而且 NMR 本身也可以提供更详细的信息，尤其是在应鉴定异构化合物时。有必要进行标准化评估以保护和评估这种生产，并使用不同的分析技术对蜂胶表征进行更多研究。而且 NMR 本身也可以提供更详细的信息，尤其是在应鉴定异构化合物时。有必要进行标准化评估以保护和评估这种生产，并使用不同的分析技术对蜂胶表征进行更多研究。