Bee Makes the Pollen Wall Breakable for Human Digestion

Abstract

Introduction: Cellulose consists of β-(1 → 4)-linked glucose units arranged in a ribbon-type conformation in a zigzag pattern. Parallel chains fit closely to each other and associate with multiple hydrogen bonds to give rise to long fibers, which are totally insoluble in water and relatively inert. Although subject to some swelling in water, cellulose is entirely unaffected by boiling in water. Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the potential for breaking down the pollen wall of honey-collected pollen using acid with pH of stomach acid, and to determine whether the honey-making process by bees is necessary for human consumption of the amino acid content present in pollen. Materials and Methods: Natural litchi flower honey was collected from Litchi Garden of Doctor Honey, Health & Harvest Dinajpur, Bangladesh in March 2021. 1 ml natural raw honey of litchi flower was diluted with 5 ml distilled water in a conical test tube. (Falcon). This was centrifuged in a swing-out rotor centrifuge (Labofuge, Germany) at a speed of 900 rpm for 10 minutes. The pollens made a pellet at the bottom of the tube. A sample from the pellet was taken on a glass slide and checked under the light microscope (optima) to ensure the presence of pollen. Citric acid was also added to the pollen. Results: Many of the pollen’s walls were found broken within one hour. It is visible that the contents of the pollen sacs are oozing out. One or two broken pollen was found in each 100 of the sample before adding acid whereas many were broken after adding acid. Conclusion: Honey-collected pollen's wall can be broken down using stomach acid, emphasizing the importance of the honey-making process for accessing amino acids, while preserving pollen in honey is crucial for maximizing nutritional benefits.