Floral diversity of bee Propolis sources in the Jammu region (Jammu & Kashmir, India)

Introduction

Propolis, often known as "bee glue," is a natural resinous substance produced by honeybees through the collection of plant materials such as buds, bark exudates, and resins. These materials are mixed with beeswax and enzymatic secretions to form a protective compound that plays an essential role in maintaining hive sanitation and defending colonies against microbial infections (Wagh, 2013) [1] . The composition of propolis is highly variable and complex, typically comprising approximately 50% plant resins, 30% waxes, 10% essential oils, 5% pollen, and 5% other organic constituents. It contains a wide range of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids, which are largely responsible for its diverse biological and pharmacological properties (Wagh, 2013) [1] . The chemical profile of propolis is strongly influenced by its botanical origin. Honeybees selectively collect resins from specific plant species such as Populus, Salix, Betula, Acacia, and Pinus, depending on their availability and environmental conditions (Tran et al., 2022) [2] . These plant-derived compounds contribute significantly to the antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer potential of propolis. India's wide range of agro-climatic conditions, extending from tropical to temperate regions, supports a rich diversity of flora that is highly favourable for beekeeping. The presence of diverse plant species enhances both the productivity of honeybees and the quality of hive products, including propolis (Thomas et al., 2002) [3] . The Jammu region of Jammu & Kashmir represents an ecologically diverse transition zone, characterized by vegetation ranging from subtropical forests to temperate coniferous ecosystems. Previous ethnobotanical investigations have documented several important resin-and gum-producing plant species in this region, including Acacia nilotica, Boswellia serrata, Pinus roxburghii, and Terminalia species, many of which are traditionally valued for their medicinal properties (Kaur et al., 2023) [4] . Despite the high floral diversity of this region, there is limited systematic information linking plant diversity with propolis sources. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the distribution of resin-and gum-yielding flora across different locations in the Jammu region and to assess their role in propolis production.

Materials and Methods

Study Area

Propolis samples were collected from apiaries located in different regions of the Jammu division viz. Jammu, Kathua, Ramban, Samba, Doda, Poonch, Reasi and Udhampur (Figure 1).

Sample Collection

Five propolis samples were collected from apiaries at each location using sterile tools. Samples were stored in airtight containers and maintained at 4 °C in dark conditions until analysis.

Floral Source Identification

The local floral sources contributing to propolis production were identified with the help of local beekeepers and confirmed using published literature are presented in Table 1.

Data Recording

Site details including coordinates, altitude, climate and vegetation were recorded. Data were analysed to assess variation in floral diversity across locations.

Results and Discussion

The present study revealed a clear variation in floral diversity of bee propolis sources across the Jammu region, influenced by altitude, climate, and vegetation type (Table 1). The low-altitude subtropical regions of Jammu (32.73°N, 74.87°E; 300 m), Samba (32.57°N, 75.12°E; 384 m), and Kathua (32.37°N, 75.52°E; ~330 m) exhibited high plant diversity dominated by species such as Acacia nilotica, Acacia catechu, Butea monosperma, Mangifera indica, Azadirachta indica, Dalbergia sissoo, and Terminalia spp. These plants are important sources of gums, tannins, and phenolic compounds, which contribute to the chemical composition of propolis (Champion and Seth, 1968; Kaur et al., 2023) [5,4] . Kathua, in particular, showed higher diversity with the presence of Boswellia serrata, Sterculia urens, and Eucalyptus tereticornis, indicating a transition towards resin-rich vegetation (Sharma and Kachroo, 1981) [9] . The mid-altitude regions of Udhampur (32.9160°N, 75.1416°E; 755 m) and Reasi (33.09°N, 74.84°E; 466 m) showed mixed vegetation comprising both subtropical and temperate species, including Pinus roxburghii, Pinus wallichiana, Cedrus deodara, Populus spp., Salix spp., and Boswellia serrata. This transitional vegetation enhances resin diversity and ensures continuous availability of plant exudates for propolis production (Swami and Gupta, 1998; Sharma and Kachroo, 1981) [10,9] . In contrast, higher altitude regions such as Ramban [11,12] . Overall, the results indicate a strong relationship between altitude and floral composition, with subtropical regions showing higher species diversity and temperate regions characterized by resin-rich coniferous flora. This variation in plant sources directly influences the chemical composition and biological activity of propolis, as different plant groups contribute distinct classes of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, terpenoids, and flavonoids (Bankova et al., 2016; Tran et al., 2022) [8,2] . For instance, angiosperm species like Acacia and Terminalia are rich in phenolic compounds and tannins, whereas coniferous species such as Pinus and Cedrus provide terpenoid-rich resins. Similarly, Populus and Salix species contribute flavonoid-rich exudates, which are widely associated with strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of propolis. Furthermore, many of the identified plant species, including Boswellia serrata, Azadirachta indica, and Terminalia spp., are well recognized in traditional medicine for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties, indicating a close relationship between ethnobotanical knowledge and propolis composition (Kaur et al., 2023) [4] . This overlap suggests that bees may preferentially collect resins from biologically active plant sources, thereby enhancing the protective function of propolis within the hive. Therefore, the diversity and availability of rich flora in the Jammu region play a crucial role in determining the quality, chemical variability and therapeutic potential of propolis. These findings also emphasize the need for conservation of native plant species and sustainable management of vegetation to support beekeeping and maintain the ecological balance of the region. Champion and Seth (1968) [5] ; Anonymous (1985) [6] and Bankova et al. (2016) [8] 2 Samba (P2) 32.57°N, 75.12°E 384 Subtropical 5

Acacia nilotica, A. catechu, Mangifera indica, Azadirachta indica, Dalbergia sissoo, Eucalyptus spp., Terminalia arjuna, T. bellirica, Champion and Seth (1968) [5] ; Anonymous (1985) [6] 3 [4] ; Sharma and Kachroo (1981) [9] 4 Swami and Gupta (1998) [10] ; Bankova (2005) [8] 5 [9] ; Kaur et al.

(2023) [5] 6 [9] ; Salatino et al. (2005) [11] 7 Doda (P7) Singh and Kachroo (1976) [12] ; Sharma and Kachroo (1981) [9]

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that floral diversity of bee propolis sources in the Jammu region is strongly governed by altitudinal and climatic variation. Subtropical locations showed higher plant diversity dominated by Acacia, Mangifera, and Terminalia, whereas higher altitudes were characterized by resin-rich coniferous species such as Pinus, Cedrus, and Picea. These differences in vegetation directly influence the composition and biological properties of propolis, as distinct plant groups contribute specific bioactive compounds including phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenoids. The occurrence of ethnomedicinally important species further supports the functional significance of regional flora in shaping propolis quality. Overall, the study highlights the critical role of floral diversity in determining propolis variability and underscores the need for conservation and sustainable management of plant species to support beekeeping and maintain ecosystem stability.

References

1. Wagh VD. Propolis: a wonder bees product and its pharmacological potentials. Adv Pharmacol Sci. 2013;2013:308249.
2. Tran TN, Brooks PR, Bryen TJ, Williams S, Berry J, Tavian F, et al. Quality assessment and chemical diversity of Australian propolis from Apis mellifera bees. Sci Rep. 2022;12:13574.
3. Thomas D, Pal N, Subba Rao K. Bee management and productivity of Indian honeybees. Apiacta. 2002;3:1-10.
4. Kaur R, Sharma M, Thakur S. Ethnobotanical information of gums and resin yielding plants of Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir, India. Med Plants. 2023;15(1):145-151.
5. Champion HG, Seth SK. A revised survey of the forest types of India. New Delhi: Government of India; 1968.
6. Anonymous. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. New Delhi: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; 1985.
7. Bankova V. Chemical diversity of propolis and the problem of standardization. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;100(1-2):114-117.
8. Bankova V, Popova M, Trusheva B. New emerging fields of application of propolis. Maced J Chem Chem Eng. 2016;35(1):1-11.
9. Sharma BD, Kachroo P. Flora of Jammu and plants of neighbourhood. Dehradun: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh; 1981.
10. Swami A, Gupta BK. Flora of Udhampur. Dehradun: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh; 1998.
11. Salatino A, Teixeira EW, Negri G, Message D. Origin and chemical variation of Brazilian propolis. Evid Based Complement Altern Med. 2005;2(1):33-38.
12. Singh G, Kachroo P. Forest flora of Srinagar and plants of neighbourhood. Dehradun: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh; 1976.