SUMMARY

      The term propolis comes from the Greek PRO:”in front of” and POLIS: “city”, which means “in front of the city”.

      Propolis is a sticky, gummy, resinous material varying in color depending on its origin. Its aroma can be pleasant to tree species yolks, honey, wax and vanilla, but also a bitter taste. It is obtained by collecting the exudates or secretions of plants (buds, bark, branches, young fruits) by Apis mellifera. After mixing these exudations with other agents such as pollen and enzymes physical and chemical modification take place and the product is transported into the hive so as to be used eventually in different functions.
      
      Bee' s participation  makes its composition change significantly related to plant resins and can be considered a product of mixed plant and animal origin. The bee's secretions of beta-glucosidase during the collection and processing of propolis, hydrolyzes flavonoid heterosides to aglycones, improving the pharmacological action of the product producing physical and chemical changes in it.
      
      In Argentina, production and trading of propolis as hive products is still nascent and nowadays currently growing in a significant way .The main producing areas are three: the Cuyo region with the Upper Valley, the Delta area and the Center and South of the Buenos Aires province  World trade positions Japan as the world's leading importer (7.100 tons) and country of the highest consumption in the world, followed by Germany (4.600 tons). Major exporters are Brazil and China. In Argentina, the export of propolis had as main destinations: Italy, U.S.A., Belgium and Spain.
      
      The main forms of marketing it are: raw propolis and propolis products aggregates (sweets, honey and propolis, propolis tincture as the most outstanding products.). Making an estimation, Argentina could have 450 tons of propolis per year for sale both in the domestic market and for export, as it is a product that is increasing its external demand. Propolis would occupy the second place in importance in international transactions among products of the hive. 
      
      In the present study general objectives proposed were to characterize botanical species involved as the main source of propolis in the Region Apicola I- Salado Basin, Buenos Aires Province, during 2001 to 2004, and to identify, describe and classify the propolis produced in this region. The study of botanical origin of propolis in that region resulted in the identification of 48 different pollen types in the total samples, 20 of them coulc be considered the predominant type being the Eucalyptus pollen more abundant.
      
      This genus included many species of trees frequently used for forestation, in this area. The results showed a preference of bees for this taxon. In relation to the different phytogeographical areas there were no statistically significant differences in the average percentage of pollen of the propolis studies and found a markedly predominance of pollen from nectar plants over those polliniferous.
      
      The Buenos Aires province could be classified in five different areas according to the predominance of plant species and in particular the Salado Basin (Area I: Buenos Aires metropolitan area, Zone II: Atlantic coast, Zone III: Central East Zone IV: Central Northeast Area V: Center of Buenos Aires province). 
      In relation to the second overall objective, specific objectives were set out to determine the homogeneity or heterogeneity of propolis botanical origin in relation to beekeeping area studied, giving special emphasis on the geographic location, the possible geographical origin of propolis on the basis of pollen spectrum and describe their organoleptic and physical chemical characteristics in relation to the botanical origin.
      
      In this context, a sensorial study was conducted. The methodology applied was previously established in IRAM 20002 / 95 for simple descriptive evidence, analyzing attributes such as: presentation (structure), appearance, texture, color, smell, taste and impurities. From the standpoint of chemical physics, determining the content of wax, resin, mechanical impurities, phenols and total flavonoids using the IRAM methodology 15.935-1/05 were analyzed in each sample. The results showed that propolis harvested during the seasons kept their sensory or organoleptic characteristics which identified the region studied. The few variations found in the color, aroma and flavor were primarily related to phytogeographical environmental stability. Qualitative attributes (presentation, impurities, color, aroma) were statistically (Mod) matched in five study areas.
      
      Regarding the physical chemistry, the low presence of waxes and impurities evidenced that although these parameters strongly influenced the quality of propolis, the percentage found was the resulting product from the training and knowledge acquired by beekeepers in order to obtain this byproduct of the hive. The content of total phenolics and flavonoids confirmed the importance of this product from the biological point of view and related to the quality. This study demonstrated that propolis harvested during the seasons kept their sensory and organoleptic characteristics, which identified the region studied and the consistency of pollen allowed to assume a good alternative to chemical physical studies to determine the origin of new regional samples, once defined regional characteristics.

As a general conclusion we can say that the sensory properties, physical and chemical pollen samples were related to the regional origin so they are suggested as indicators for diagnosis of geographic origin of propolis produced in the Region Apicola I in the Salado Basin.
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