Chemical Composition, Physicochemical Properties, and Antimicrobial Activity of Stingless Bee Geopropolis from the Baturité Massif, Northeastern Brazil

Propolis is a resinous material collected by bees and is rich in phenolic and terpenoid compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In Brazil, propolis produced by stingless bees incorporates soil-derived materials, forming geopropolis with distinct physicochemical characteristics. This study investigated the chemical profile, physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial potential of geopropolis produced by Scaptotrigona aff. depilis and Frieseomelitta varia from Ceará, Brazil, using integrated in vitro and in silico approaches. Marked interspecific differences were observed, with higher wax and mechanical impurity contents in S. depilis, whereas F. varia presented a higher resin fraction. Both samples contained phenolics and flavonoids, and phytochemical screening revealed tannins, coumarins, alkaloids, and steroids. GC–MS identified triterpenes and sterols as major constituents in S. depilis, while diterpenes predominated in F. varia. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated inhibitory activity against tested microorganisms, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 32 to 4096 μg/mL, with the strongest activity observed for geopropolis produced by F. varia. Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities toward β-lactamase KPC-2 and dihydropteroate synthase. These results highlight geopropolis from stingless bees as a promising natural source of bioactive compounds with potential activity against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.