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Advances in the Elemental Composition Analysis of Propolis Samples from Different Regions of Turkey by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

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Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to determine the elemental composition of 47 propolis samples collected from different regions of Turkey by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. According to the results, the most abundant elements in propolis samples were the Ca, K, and Si with the mean values as 1556, 1383, and 731 mg/kg, respectively. Additionally, there were high degrees of positive and strong correlations of Al with S (0.925) and Fe (0.926) and Ca with Mg (0.970). According to cluster analysis results, the Aegean, Marmara, and Mediterranean regions showed strong similarities, whereas Southeastern Anatolia propolis samples were remarkably different. The elements considered as toxic for human and environmental health such as Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, and W were at the trace amounts as < 10 mg/kg. When assuming 1 g raw propolis is consumed daily by a 60-kg adult, the analyzed propolis samples were not a source carrying the negative effects of these elements. However, they could be an indicator of environmental pollution.

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Data Availability

Datasets used in the present study will be made available by the corresponding author upon request without any hesitation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Akdeniz University for supporting this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey

    Ceren Mutlu & Mustafa Erbaş

  2. Food Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Turkey

    Ceren Mutlu

  3. Geological Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey

    Özge Özer-Atakoğlu & Mustafa Gürhan Yalçın

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  1. Ceren Mutlu
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  2. Özge Özer-Atakoğlu
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  3. Mustafa Erbaş
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  4. Mustafa Gürhan Yalçın
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Contributions

Ceren MUTLU: investigation, methodology, formal analysis, writing original draft. Özge ÖZER-ATAKOĞLU: investigation, methodology, formal analysis. Mustafa ERBAŞ and Mustafa Gürhan YALÇIN: supervision and editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mustafa Erbaş.

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The manuscript was read and approved by co-authors and there is no conflict of interest. This research does not contain any studies with 286 human or animal subjects. Informed consent is not applicable.

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Mutlu, C., Özer-Atakoğlu, Ö., Erbaş, M. et al. Advances in the Elemental Composition Analysis of Propolis Samples from Different Regions of Turkey by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 435–443 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03152-3

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