# Functional and Antimicrobial Properties of Propolis from Different Areas of Romania
## 4 Discussion  
This study analysed propolisis samples collected from five regions in Romania, focusing on their chemical composition, including phenolic and flavonoid content, and their bioactivity, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The results revealed significant variability influenced by geographical and botanical factors. The research area exhibits considerable diversity in landscape complexity. While the land class may not be a sufficient basis for classifying the origin of propolisis, a more comprehensive analysis could provide additional insights. The availability of mellifera essences, and thus the variety of plant secretions and resins accessible to bees, may be subject to fluctuations depending on the region. Areas with a more diverse flora, where bees have access to a greater range of plant-derived materials throughout the active season, may experience less pronounced seasonal changes. Conversely, monoculture practices can lead to a reduction in plant diversity and, consequently, the variability of available materials [5, 6, 35]. The composition of propolis in hives located in urban settings is more likely to be influenced by the botanical species present in that area [7, 8]. In the study by [PERSON] et al. [8], the propolisis extracts from the urban context exhibited similar compositions despite originating from disparate cities. In this particular case study, a notable discrepancy is observed between apiaries C1 and C2, indicative of significant floristic differences between the two locations. The distance between the two locations is approximately 4000 m. Consequently, the 3000 m radius encompasses a considerable portion of the radius of the other apiary, as well as a minor portion of the 1200 m radius. However, the difference between the identified phenolic compounds of C1 and C2 is notable. Additionally, there are differences between the total phenolic acids and flavonoids, with C1 having a significantly higher content. As for the propolisis of the other locations, a total of 16 phenolics were identified in A, 14 in S, and 11 in H. The landscape differences between locations were significant when the area of a 1200 m radius was taken into account. Common land classes across all locations were pastures, with similar extensions in all locations, and broad-leaved forests (similar extensionsin A and S). However, H had a significantly higher percentage of the aforementioned land classes compared to the other two. A more profound comprehension of the botanical provenance of propolis could prove instrumental in the endeavours to achieve standardisation. Furthermore, it is evident that climatic attributes and plant biodiversity exert a pronounced influence on the quality and quantity of propolisis [35]; the climatic characteristics and plant diversity affect not only the composition of propolis but also the overall well-being of the honey bees [6; 36; 37]. The wax content of propolis has been observed to exhibit considerable variation across different studies, with values reported to range from 10% to 50% [38; 39; 40; 41]. Despite the high proportion of wax present in sample C1 (41.2%), the antimicrobial activity of this propolis extract was notably high. It is likely that this pronounced activity can be attributed to the bees having access to a greater diversity of resins in that location. The area with a discontinuous urban fabric has a high plant diversity, with three different parks, the botanical garden, and the plant bioreserve of the university campus, all situated within a 1200 m radius. The quantity of balsam present was observed to vary considerably between samples; specifically, it was found that the 1% extract contained quantities of balsam between 49 and 61.6%, while the 10% extract exhibited a range of between 50 and 64.8%. The results demonstrate that the sample with the highest balsam content exhibited the lowest wax values. Moreover, the values exceed the minimum standard of 45% recommended in the literature [3].