Antioxidant, Nutraceutical Properties, and Fluorescence Spectral Profiles of Bee Pollen Samples from Different Botanical Origins

Abstract

Bee pollen is made by honey bees (Apis Mellifera) from the pollen of plants and flowers and represents an apiary product enriched in essential amino acids, polyphenols, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. This study investigated the botanical origin, micronutrient profile, and antioxidant activity of bee pollen samples (n = 10) harvested in Lucca and Massa Carrara (Tuscany, Italy) between 2016 and 2017. The palynological analysis showed that bee pollen samples were composed of nine botanical families. Front-face fluorescence spectroscopy was performed on bee pollen samples in bulk, without any treatment, and in ethanol extracts to determine the characteristic fluorescent profile and, to identify the main chemical compounds with biological activity. The main chemical compounds detected were polyphenols (mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids), hydro-soluble vitamins (B2, B3, B6, and B9), amino acids, and pigments. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity was investigated, and one of the two Viburnum pollens resulted in the highest polyphenols and flavonoids content (20.15 ± 0.15 mg GAE/g fw and 23.46 ± 0.08 mg CE/g fw, respectively). However, Prunus and Eucalyptus families showed the highest in vitro (190.27 ± 8.30 µmol Fe2+/g) and ex vivo (54.61 ± 8.51 CAA unit) antioxidant capacity, respectively. These results suggested that Tuscan bee pollen, depending on the botanical family, is rich in essential nutrients and potential nutraceutical product.

The Isorhamnetin-Containing Fraction of Philippine Honey Produced by the Stingless Bee Tetragonula biroi Is an Antibiotic against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

“…This finding corroborates with a recent study on T. biroi honey, which claims that phenolic acids and flavonoids are responsible for the well-established antioxidant activity of stingless bee honey [ 25 ]. There are reports indicating that phenolics and flavonoids in honey are greatly influenced by the floral source where the bee species forage for food [ 8 , 14 , 43 ]. In this preliminary study, the correlation of antibiotic and antioxidant activities to the botanical and entomological origins of honey is not clear because of narrow set of samples and lack of melissopalynological analysis information.…”

“…Correlated with honey’s biological activities is the diversity of its secondary metabolite composition. This chemodiversity is influenced by several factors, such as plant source, geographical location, entomological origin, honey collection, and extraction processes [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Aside from being a supersaturated solution of glucose and fructose, the chemical composition of honey is complex and variable, which is strongly dependent on its geographical and botanical origins [ 14 ].…”

“…An abundance of information on the evaluation of honey’s antimicrobial and antioxidant properties is available [ 3 , 7 , 8 , 16 , 20 , 23 ]. However, it is notable that the observed bioactivities are dependent on and as variable as the botanical and geographical origins, and climatic conditions [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 23 ]. In the Philippines, the majority of honey is produced by A. mellifera and, to a limited extent, by the indigenous stingless bee Tetrogonula biroi (synonymous to Trigona biroi ) [ 24 ].…”

“…The health-promoting properties of honey are associated with plant secondary metabolites that are gathered by honey bees concomitant to the collection of flower nectars or Molecules 2021, 26, 1688. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061688 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules honeydew. In addition to its traditional household use as a sweetener, honey is often recognized as an alternative nutraceutical that exhibits a broad spectrum of in vitro activities such as antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticancer, anti-glycemic, prebiotic, and antiviral activities [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Correlated with honey's biological activities is the diversity of its secondary metabolite composition.…”

“…Other bioactive constituents such as organic acids, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, and proteins were also found [1,2,19]. An abundance of information on the evaluation of honey's antimicrobial and antioxidant properties is available [3,7,8,16,20,23]. However, it is notable that the observed bioactivities are dependent on and as variable as the botanical and geographical origins, and climatic conditions [8][9][10][11]13,14,23].…”