A systematic review of metabolomics studies on metabolite profiling and phytogeographical discrimination of propolis

Propolis, a functional food ingredient, has diverse constituents that give it pharmacological properties. This systematic review aimed to provide a summary of propolis metabolomics studies throughout the past decade. Covidence systematic review platform was used to summarize propolis metabolomics papers from 2014 to 2024 in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Thirty-three articles were conducted in vitro and in vivo, providing information on metabolite profiling (molecular markers and metabolic pathway information) and its phytogeographical discrimination (botanical origin and regional discrimination). Advanced data analysis, multivariate statistical analysis, bioinformatics tools, and machine learning were used in addition to chromatographic, spectroscopic, and spectrometric procedures. Propolis composition can be affected by plant sources, bee species, and location. This review examined the limitations of propolis metabolomic studies and recommended ways to improve their quality and applicability. It provides information on propolis in the metabolic pathways of various diseases and its metabolites as functional food ingredients.