Methanol extracts of propolis from six different places, five in Rio de Janeiro state and one in São Paulo state, both in the Southeast of Brazil, were investigated using high-temperature high-resolution gas chromatography (HT-HRGC) and HT-HRGC−mass spectometry. The main purpose of the study was to establish the applicability of HT-HRGC as an analytical method for systematic studies of polar propolis fractions. Several compounds, including carbohydrates, phenolic acid derivatives, and high molecular weight compounds (e.g., wax esters of long chain fatty alcohols) could be readily characterized in the crude extracts by HT-HRGC−MS. HT-HRGC and HT-HRGC−MS were shown to be quick and informative tools for rapid analysis of crude polar extracts without cleanup.

Keywords: Propolis; high-temperature gas chromatography; polar compounds; carbohydrates; high molecular weight compounds