# Brazilian Propolis: Nature's Liquid Gold with Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Potential
## 3 Brazilian Propolis: Unique Properties and Economic Significance
Unlike the formerly classified variety, primarily collected in the southeastern region of Brazil, the newly identified type is mostly found in the northern part of this country, with its floral origin being _Mimosa tentiiflora_ (Wild.) [PERSON]. [14]. Red Brazilian propolis is produced on mangroves from a red exudate of _Dalberga ecastophyllum_ (L.) [PERSON] or, in the Atlantic Forest, of _Symphonia globulifera_. It has also been established that red Brazilian propolis occasionally originates from the _Clusia_species [14]. Both biomes are in proximity to Brazilian coastal regions [14]. Its signature compounds are vestitol, neovestitol and methylvestitol (isoflavonoids) [31]. Brazilian propolisis from the southern region is often referred to as brown Brazilian propolisis. Its distinct chemical profile indicates its complex origin, including _Baccharis dracunculirolia_ [PERSON], _Populus alba_ [PERSON] and _Anucaria angustifolia_ ([PERSON].) [PERSON] [14]. Depending on its floral origination, the chemical content may differ; however, the components commonly found are artepillin C, luteolin-5-O-methyl ether, dipertenes and pinocerphrin [14]. Geographical locations and vegetative sources of the selected types of propolisis are presented in Figure 3.  
Differences in the Brazilian propolisis chemome compared to other types of propolisis result in the outstanding properties of this specific variant. Compared to the Chinese type, Brazilian propolisis has a higher content of artepillin C, chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid A, which demonstrates a strong anti-inflammatory effect [25]. Both varieties show strong free-radical scavenging activity [25]. Compared to Egyptian, Saudi, Omani, Chinese and Bulgarian varieties, Brazilian propolisis contains the highest amount of phenolic compounds [1]. It is also reported to contain a considerable amount of fat, which makes it a potentially valuable source of unsaturated fatty acids [1]. The chloroform fraction of Brazilian propolisis has antibacterial properties against _S. aureus_ and _Streptococcus mutans_[32]. Methanol, acetate and hexane fractions of Brazilian red propolisis also show antibacterial effects on _S. aureus_, _S. epidermidis_ and _Pseudomonas aeruginosa_[32]. Other types of Brazilian propolisis, such as yellow, black, dark, etc., have been classified [14]. However, their commercial production and popularity level are far lower than those of the green and red varieties [14], which are valuable nutraceutical products on the global market [20]. Figure 2: Bar chart showing the number of articles on Brazilian propolisis and its derived substances over the years (2010–2024); based on the PubMed database of scientific articles. According to the data provided by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, red Brazilian propolis, from the mangrove forests in the state of Alagoas and its extracts have the Appellation of Origin label. It indicates the geographical origin of products and services considered significant for a particular region. It also confirms unique characteristics of a specific product related to its origin, thus providing reliable information both on the product and the local culture it represents [33]. The latest published data show that Brazil exported 41,721 kg of Brazilian propolis for $5,401,643 [28]. The most commercially valuable samples are marked by meagre contributions of resin from alternative plant sources. Being purely of floral origin, green Brazilian propolis is characterized by its vivid green colour and stiffness [14]. Production and export of Brazilian propolis allow local beekeepers to achieve a source of income and equal access to resources for people in rural areas. This creates a good chance of achieving the goals proposed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) since the work of the rural community translates into a decent income, which also proves that agriculture (including beekeeping) may be a profitable occupation [34].