Effect of Hydrogen-Enriched Solvents on the Extraction of Phytochemicals in Propolis

Propolis, one of the most important bee products, cannot be used in its raw form. The efficiency of the bioactive components of propolis increases with the extraction process. The choice of solvent to be used in the extraction of propolis is effective in determining the properties of the extract. Ethanol is the most widely used solvent, which significantly increases the efficiency of its bioactive components in the extraction of propolis. Effective nonalcohol-based extraction techniques have become important since alcohol-based extracts cause some discomfort and cannot be used in people with alcohol intolerance. The use of water in propolis extraction is less preferred than ethanol because it does not thoroughly dissolve the bioactive components. In this study, the effect of incorporating hydrogen into solvents (water, ethanol, and methanol) on the extraction of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activities, and phenolic compound profile of the propolis sample was evaluated. Incorporation of H2 into water, ethanol, and methanol led to an increase in total phenolic content by 19.08, 5.43, and 12.71% and in the total flavonoid content by 28.97, 17.13, and 2.06%, respectively. Besides, the highest increases in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) scavenging activities were observed in hydrogen-rich water (4.4%) and hydrogen-rich ethanol (32.4%) compared to their counterparts, respectively. On the other hand, incorporation of H2 into different solvents led to significant increases in different phenolics, and it was observed that the level of change was dependent on the type of the phenolic compound and the solvent used. This study is important in terms of using hydrogen-enriched solvents to extract phenolics from propolis for the first time. Using hydrogen-rich solvents, specifically hydrogen-rich water, was observed to be an effective method for the improvement of phytochemical extraction efficiency in propolis.