Comparative fatty acid profiles, volatile components and antimicrobial potential of some bees propolis from South-West, Nigeria

Propolis has been linked to a variety of therapeutic benefits, including as antibacterial, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, anti-oxidative, and anticancer effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate antimicrobial potential, volatile components, and compare the fatty acid profiles of some bees propolis from South-west region of Nigeria. Bee propolis was collected from Ondo, Oyo and Ekiti States. The volatile and thermally stable analytes were identified and quantified using GC-MS analysis. The results indicated that the fatty acid composition of the three propolis samples from Ondo, Oyo and Ekiti States showed notable quantitative variations. All samples are dominated by saturated fatty acids, with n-octadecanoic acid and n-hexadecanoic acid being the most common lipid components. Oyo propolis exhibited the most significant percentage of saturated fatty acids, with n-octadecanoic acid at 8.16% and n-hexadecanoic acid at 6.90%, accounting for approximately 15.06% of the overall composition. Ekiti and Ondo propolis had lower combined saturated fatty acid levels, at 9.09% and 7.14%, respectively. Oyo propolis showed enhanced antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-positive pathogens due to their higher amount of alkane and saturated fatty acids. A significant inhibition zones for Staphylococcus (21, 19, 23 mm), Bacillus subtilis (23, 26, 20 mm), Escherichia coli (18, 22, 19 mm), Salmonella typhi (18, 20, 22mm) Pseudomonas aeruginosa 20, 19, 18mm), and Candida albicans (19, 21, 18 mm) for Ekiti, Ondo and Oyo propolis respectively were observed. This study examines the chemical fingerprints of propolis from South-western Nigeria and its potential uses in developing natural products and medicine.