Volatile constituents of propolis from various regions of Greece – Antimicrobial activity

The volatiles of five samples of Greek propolis from various geographic origin (A–E) were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography, using flame ionization GC and mass spectrometric detection. Ninety-four components were identified from the oils. The major components from each sample were found to be: junipene (11.7%), α-pinene (7.9%), manoyl oxide (7.1%) (sample A), α-pinene (45.8%), trans-β-terpineol (6.6%) (sample B), α-pinene (17.7%), α-eudesmol (12.1%), n-decanal (6.2%), guaiol (5.0%) (sample C), α-pinene (18.2%), δ-cadinene (8.4%) and α-muurolene (5.0%) (sample D), α-pinene (10.9%), n-decanal (10.3%), cedrol (6.3%), n-nonanal (5.4%), and manool (5.2%) (sample E). The total profile of the volatile constituents of all samples reveals the predominance of terpenoids, especially of α-pinene. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the volatiles from all five studied samples against six bacteria and three fungi is also assayed and reported.