Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Properties of Bee-Collected Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) Pollen

Abstract

The current study intended to determine, for the first time, phenolic and fatty acid profile, antioxidant and certain nutritional properties of monofloral bee-collected artichoke (Cynara scolymus) pollen. Based on UHPLC-DAD MS-MS analysis the main phenolics in extractable fraction were different flavonol glycosides (in particular Isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, 49.2 mg/kg of dry weight) while ferulic acid was the predominant phenolic compound (39.4 mg/kg of dry weight) in the alkaline hydrolyzable fraction. Among fatty acids (FAs), results of GC-FID analysis revealed prevalence of unsaturated FAs with cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and oleic acid as the main ones- 28.4% and 24.9%, respectively. Based on the FA composition, nutritional analysis proved that artichoke bee-collected pollen had balanced ω-6 and ω-3 FAs content. To determine the antioxidant properties of pollen, five different assays were applied. It was proved that bioactive compounds in artichoke pollen possessed significant ability to quench DPPH radical as well as ABTS radical cation. In addition, in vitro phosphomolybdenum assay confirmed that artichoke pollen is an excellent source of different antioxidants. Pollen extracts exhibited moderate ferric reducing power as well as low ferrous chelating ability. Some further antioxidant studies (preferably in vivo) should be performed to confirm the observed results.

Hieracium waldsteinii (Asteraceae) and Onosma stellulata (Boraginaceae) as a Source of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents

“…The obtained results for absorbances were used for determination of % of radical inhibition [45] and after that for determination of IC 50 values expressed as μg/ mL of plant extracts. For determination of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) standard assay based on reduction of phosphomolybdenum reagent was applied [46] while ability of extracts to reduce iron(III) ions was determined with application of standard ferric reducing power (FRP) assay. [46] Results were expressed as mg of ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE) per 1 g of dry weight.…”

“…For determination of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) standard assay based on reduction of phosphomolybdenum reagent was applied [46] while ability of extracts to reduce iron(III) ions was determined with application of standard ferric reducing power (FRP) assay. [46] Results were expressed as mg of ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE) per 1 g of dry weight.…”

Floral Pollen Bioactive Properties and Their Synergy in Honeybee Pollen

“…[31] Several reports showed that the protective action of one antioxidant could also produce the synergistic antioxidant effect by its sacrificial oxidation. [36,45,46] Synergy has been achieved in a binary mixture of plant extracts, and the antioxidant compounds compositions of honeybee pollen depend on the plant metabolites from a plant selected by honeybees, [1,36] transferring these proprieties to the mixture pollen (Figure 2). The MP2, MP3, MP4, and MP5 have the highest antioxidant capacity value (Figure 2); the highest synergy effect was MP2 and MP3 without a significant difference, both from Brassica rapa L. botanical origin (Figure 1; Table1).…”

Comparative Palynological, Physicochemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Romanian Honey Varieties for Biomedical Applications

“…[52] The same variability between the results of TEAC and free DPPH radical inhibition was observed in a previous study on bee-collected pollen. [53] However, the botanical origin of honey could exert the highest influence on the antioxidant activity, along with processing, handling and storage of samples. [54] The composition of honey, namely phenolics content was in direct relationship to free radical scavenging.…”