Abstract
Recent research shows variations in pollen chemical constituents and, consequently, in their therapeutic properties. Mono and multifloral bee pollen extracts were investigated for antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activity properties, phenolic compounds and fatty acid composition. Generally, Eucalyptus spp. and multifloral extracts exhibited potent inhibitory activity against α-amylase, acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, lipoxygenase, lipase and hyaluronidase. On the other hand, Miconia spp. demonstrated higher antihemolytic activity. Cocos nucifera and Miconia spp. extracts exhibited important antioxidant properties in the different assays (ABTS, DPPH, β-carotene/linoleic acid and reducing power). Moreover, these extracts had greater amounts of total phenols and flavonoids in comparison to others. The increase in antioxidant activity (decrease in EC50 values) was accompanied by an increase in the amount of total phenols in the extracts. The pollen extracts contained linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid as major fatty acids, followed by palmitic acid, and oleic acid. In this study, differences were observed in both chemical constituents and biological activities of the samples related to the geographical and botanical origin of bee pollen.
Highlights
Bee pollen has a highly complex and nutritive chemical composition [1], but its constituents vary within a minimum and maximum range of values, especially due to geographical and botanical origin, as well as edaphoclimatic conditions [2,3,4,5].This beehive product is considered a healthy food, with a wide range of beneficial effects for human health, including protection against depression and anxiolytic properties, memory improvement and antiepileptic effect as well as decrease on the rate of bone loss due to osteoporosis on mice [6,7]
Eleven fatty acids were identified and quantified; their number of carbons ranged from C4 to C18 (Table 1)
Palmitic (SFA, C16:0) and oleic (PUFA, C18:1n9, Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)) acids were present in high quantities and their concentrations significantly differed among the extracts (p < 0.05)
Summary
Bee pollen has a highly complex and nutritive chemical composition [1], but its constituents vary within a minimum and maximum range of values, especially due to geographical and botanical origin, as well as edaphoclimatic conditions [2,3,4,5]. This beehive product is considered a healthy food, with a wide range of beneficial effects for human health, including protection against depression and anxiolytic properties, memory improvement and antiepileptic effect as well as decrease on the rate of bone loss due to osteoporosis on mice [6,7]. The aberrant increase activity of acetylcholinesterase is associated with the etiopatogenicity of Alzheimer’s disease [12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
