Objective: This research aimed to determine the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant properties in vitro of three types propolis collected from the region of South Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. Methods: Samples from three types of propolis: smooth, rough and mix were extracted with 96% ethanol. The propolis ethanolic extracts (PEE) was dried and studied their antioxidant properties by using FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) and DPPH radical scavenging assays. Total phenolic compounds were quantified by Folin-Ciocalteu, and total flavonoid contents were also quantitatively determined by the AlCl 3 colorimetric method with a microplate reader. The chemical compounds were identified by an ultraperformance liquid chromatography TOF mass spectrometer (UPLC-TOF-MS) using the MS E mode. Results: The sequence of potential antioxidant activity of PEE is smooth propolis > mix propolis > rough propolis. Which showed by EC 50 value with DPPH assays are 25.54; 31.66; and 69.96 µg/mL, respectively and also showed by EC 50 value with FRAP assays consecutively were 26.41; 32.10; and 34.62 μg/mL.Smooth propolis has the lowest EC 50 value of all the types of propolis examined, contains total flavonoid content 791.06+13.06 mg QE/g extract and total phenolics content 426.91+61.08 mg GAE.g-1 extract. Chemical component identified by UPLC-TOF-MS using the MS E mode were (-)-Sesamin C 20 H 18 O 6 ; Curcumin C 21 H 20 O 6 ; 8-epi-Helenalin C 15 H 18 O 4 ; and Kushenol F C 25 H 28 O 6. Conclusion: Smooth propolis which taken from inside the nest was the most potent antioxidant among of all the types of examined propolis. The antioxidant activity was influenced by the phenolic content of Propolis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia with impaired carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism caused by defects in insulin secretion or action. Based on our previous research, stingless bee honey (SLBH) from Tetragonula biroi and T. laeviceps can inhibit alpha-glucosidase activities. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effects of daily oral administration of SLBH on body weight (BW) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of male rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM. Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six groups of six rats each. One group of normal non-diabetic rats served as a positive control. The diabetic groups were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with STZ (50 mg/kg BW) for induction of DM and divided into five equal subgroups of six animals each: an untreated group as a negative control; a group treated with 0.6 mg/kg BW of glibenclamide as a positive control and three SLBN treatment groups that had daily oral administration of 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg BW, respectively, for 35 days. The results showed that SLBH significantly reduced loss of BW in diabetic rats. FBG levels in diabetic rat blood, collected from the tail, were measured using Accu-Chek test strips. The FBG levels in diabetic rats that have oral administered intake with glibenclamide and SLBH were stable. There were no changes in serum FBG levels in SLBH-treated diabetic rats for 35 days. Pancreatic histopathology results from all groups showed no abnormalities or tissue damage in either diabetic or non-diabetic rats. The results of this study show that administration of SLBH reduced BW loss or improved BW of rats with STZ-induced DM. Meanwhile, the reduction in loss of BW that occurred in diabetic rats after 35 days of SLBH administration was the result of reduced formation of fats and proteins, which are broken down into energy. Further research is needed to determine the antidiabetic effects of honey from other stingless honeybee species.

Background and Aim: The authentication of honey is important to protect industry and consumers from such adulterated honey. However, until now, there has been no guarantee of honey's authenticity, especially in Indonesia. The classification of honey is based on the bee species (spp.) that produces it. The study used honey from sting bee Apis spp. and stingless bee Tetragonula spp. based on the fact that the content off honey produced between them has differences. Authenticating honey with currently available rapid detection methods, such as 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, is costly. This study aimed to develop an inexpensive, fast, precise, and accurate classification method for authenticating honey. Materials and Methods: In this study, we use attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with wavelengths ranging between 550 and 4000 cm-1 as an alternative analysis method, which is relatively less expensive. The spectra of authentic and fake honey samples were obtained using ATR-FTIR and plotted using chemometric discriminant analysis. The authentic honey samples were acquired from a local Indonesian breeder of honey bees, while the fake honey samples were made from a mixture of water, sugar, sodium bicarbonate, and authentic honey. Data were collected using Thermo Scientific's OMNIC FTIR software and processed using Thermo Scientific's TQ Analyst software. Results: Our method effectively classified the honey as authentic or fraudulent based on the FTIR spectra. To authenticate the honey, we formed two classes: Real honey and fake honey. The wavelengths that can best differentiate between these two classes correspond to four regions: 1600-1700 cm-1; 1175-1540 cm-1; 940-1175 cm-1; and 700-940 cm-1. Similarly, for classification purpose, we formed two classes: Apis spp. and Tetragonula spp. The wavelength region that can best classify the samples as belonging to the Apis spp. or Tetragonula spp. class is explicitly within the range of 1600-1700 cm-1. Conclusion: This study successfully demonstrated a method to rapidly and accurately classify and authenticate honey. ATR-FTIR is a useful tool to test the authenticity of honey. Keywords: Apis spp., attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared, discriminant, spectrum, Tetragonula spp.

Anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit inflammation, particularly those classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Several studies have reported that propolis has both anti-ulcerogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the bioactive compound and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties of both smooth and rough propolis from Tetragronula sp. To further identify anti-inflammatory markers in propolis, LC-MS/MS was used, and results were analyzed by Mass Lynx 4.1. Rough and smooth propolis of Tetragonula sp. were microcapsulated with maltodextrin and arabic gum. Propolis microcapsules at dose 25-200 mg/kg were applied for carrageenan-induced rat's paw-inflammation model. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests. LC-MS/MS experiments identified seven anti-inflammatory compounds, including [6]-dehydrogingerdione, alpha-tocopherol succinate, adhyperforin, 6-epiangustifolin, deoxypodophyllotoxin, kurarinone, and xanthoxyletin. Our results indicated that smooth propolis at 50 mg/kg inhibited inflammation to the greatest extent, followed by rough propolis at a dose of 25 mg/kg. SPM and RPM with the dose of 25 mg/kg had inflammatory inhibition value of 62.24% and 58.12%, respectively, which is comparable with the value 70.26% of sodium diclofenac with the dose of 135 mg/kg. This study suggests that propolis has the potential candidate to develop as a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug.

Dengue is an acute febrile disease caused by dengue virus (DENV) that is transmitted by Aedes sp., which causes serious health conditions in many countries. Non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is a co-factor for the RNA replication of this virus, which represents a new strategy for the identification of dengue. Prompt and accurate laboratory diagnosis of this infection is required to assist in patient triage and management, as well as prevent the spread of this infection. In the present study, we tested the potential of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as a diagnostic tool for dengue infections. NS1 antigen protein was used as an analyte that targets anti-NS1 antibodies, with their interaction resulting in a change in the refractive index. In comparison to currently available gold-standard detection methods [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)], SPR showed a similar sensitivity but greater efficiency and simplicity in terms of infection detection. Out of 26 samples collected from patients with dengue in Indonesia, SPR was able to correctly identify all 16 positively infected individuals at a lower concentration and a shorter period of time compared to ELISA and RT-PCR. This study revealed that SPR is a promising tool for DENV detection and potentially other diseases as well.

The objective of this study was to determine the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) of propolis microcapsules from Tetragonula spp. A microplate reader was used to determine TPC and AA. Smooth propolis extract with the highest TPC and AA was used as core material for microencapsulation with maltodextrin and gum arabic as coating materials, prepared by using the spray-drying method. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the morphologies of microcapsules. The spray-dried propolis (SDP) microcapsules exhibited the high TPC of 237.33 mg GAE/g, AA with the EC50 value of 34.823 µg/ml, moisture content at 6.32%, the water solubility was 92.48%. The SEM images of SDP microcapsules showed uniform spherical particles with sizes ranging from 0.8 to 4 µm. The conclusion was propolis with high total phenolic content can be prepared as a core material for microencapsulation with maltodextrin and gum arabic as a coating material using the spray-drying method. The microencapsulation could protect total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of propolis. It also improved their physical appearance and solubility index.