Phenolic Content and Bioactivity as Geographical Classifiers of Propolis from Stingless Bees in Southeastern Mexico.

Propolis collected by stingless bees is a valuable biocultural resource and a source of bioactive compounds. Methodologies to establish both the geographic origin and the potential pharmacological activity of propolis of stingless bees are required to regulate their sustainable use. The aim of this study was to classify propolis according to its phenolic compound content and potential pharmacological activity, using in vitro assays and statistical methodologies of multivariate analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis.