Synthesis, characterization and anti-oxidative properties of propolis-like compound prepared from prenylation of Indonesia’s cinnamon (Cinnamomum Burmannii) essential oil using ÃŽÃâ€

Antonius Herry Cahyana, Widaja

Abstract

Nowadays, many of synthetic compounds with potent and diverse biological activity have been prepared from available natural compounds, which are safe, inexpensive and readily available. Propolis is a resinous bee-hive product containing bee secretions and plant resins, popular as a health supplement because of its various biological properties, and composed primarily of artepillin C, a prenylated derivative of cinnamic acid. The hydro-distilled volatile oil of the Cinnamomum burmannii bark was analysed by using gas chromatograph – mass spectrometer (GC-MS). It was rich of phenylpropanoid compounds with cinnamaldehyde as the major compounds. Prenylation of the essential oil was succesfully carried out by using 3,3-dimethyl allyl bromide with heterogeneous catalyst, and the products were identified by GC-MS. Prenylated essential oil showed high antioxidant activities which are suggested due to prenylated cinnamaldehyde, since it is the main compound.