Sixty-two commercial samples of dehydrated bee pollen (Apis mellifera bees) collected in Brazil (eight states and the Federal District) were analyzed for commercial quality (moisture, ash, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates), and hygiene (aerobic mesophiles, yeasts and molds, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and sulfite-reducing Clostridium). The analyzed samples were within the regulatory limits established by the legislation for ash, lipid and protein, except for moisture content. The analyzed hygiene parameters evaluated for bee pollen are not regulated by the Brazilian legislation, and the data discussed can contribute to regulatory agencies. Only moderate and weak correlations were observed between dehydrated pollen samples and the parameters evaluated. Calidad microbioló gica y caracterizació n fisicoquímica del polen de abeja Se analizó la calidad comercial (humedad, cenizas, lípidos, proteínas e hidratos de carbono) e higiene (mesó filos aeró bicos, levaduras y mohos, coliformes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus y Clostridium reductor de sulfito) de 62 muestras comerciales de polen de abejas deshidratadas (Apis mellifera abejas) recogidas en Brasil (ocho estados y el Distrito Federal). Las muestras analizadas se encontraban dentro de los límites reglamentarios establecidos por la legislació n para las cenizas, lípidos y proteínas, con excepció n del contenido de humedad. Los parámetros de higiene analizados para el polen de abejas no están regulados por la legislació n brasileña y los datos discutidos pueden ser distribuidos a los organismos reguladores. Só lo se observaron correlaciones moderadas y débiles entre muestras de polen deshidratadas y los parámetros evaluados.

Bee pollen has been promoted as a dietary supplement for humans due to its nutritional and bioactive properties. Sixty-two samples of Apis mellifera dehydrated bee pollen collected in Brazil (eight states and Federal District) were analyzed for phenolic compounds, flavonoids, antioxidant activity using DPPH, b-carotene and ORAC methods, and antimicrobial activity. The values obtained for total phenolic compounds ranged from 12.60 to 84.22 mg GAE/g bee pollen while total flavonoids oscillated between 1.90 and 36.85 mg quercetin/g bee pollen. The IC 50 ranged from 0.35 to 13.42 mg bee pollen/mL of extract. The inhibition percentages ranged from 52.58 to 98.37% of bee pollen extract using the b-carotene method. When measured by the ORAC method, antioxidant activity was between 132.98 and 575.85 lmols eq. Trolox/g bee pollen. Bee pollen efficiently inhibited the growth of all the microorganisms studied. Candida albicans was the most resistant, while Staphylococcus epidermides was the most sensitive.