Volume 20, Issue 4 e202201138
Research Article

Floral Pollen Bioactive Properties and Their Synergy in Honeybee Pollen

Patricia Velásquez

Patricia Velásquez

Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andrés Bello, 8370035 República, Santiago, Chile

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Eduardo Muñoz-Carvajal

Eduardo Muñoz-Carvajal

Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), 1720256 La Serena, Chile

Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Serena, 1720256 La Serena, Chile

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Lissette Grimau

Lissette Grimau

Departamento de Ciencias de los Vegetales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 7820436 Macul, Chile

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Daniela Bustos

Daniela Bustos

Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andrés Bello, 8370035 República, Santiago, Chile

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Gloria Montenegro

Gloria Montenegro

Departamento de Ciencias de los Vegetales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 7820436 Macul, Chile

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Ady Giordano

Corresponding Author

Ady Giordano

Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 7820436 Macul, Chile

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First published: 08 March 2023
Citations: 2

Abstract

Honeybee pollen (HBP) is a mixture of floral pollen collected by honeybees near the hive. It is characterized by a composition rich in phenolic compounds, carotenoids and vitamins that act as free radicals scavengers, conferring antioxidant and antibacterial capacity to the matrix. These bioactive properties are related to the botanical origin of the honeybee pollen. Honeybee pollen samples were collected from different geographical locations in central Chile, and their total carotenoid content, polyphenols profile by HPLC/MS/MS, DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and antimicrobial capacity against S. pyogenes, E. coli, S. aureus, and P. auriginosa strains were evaluated. Our results showed a good carotenoids content and polyphenols composition, while antioxidant capacity presented values between 0–95 % for the scavenging effect related to the botanical origin of the samples. Inhibition diameter for the different strains presented less variability among the samples, Furthermore, binary mixtures representing the two most abundant species in each HBP were prepared to assess the synergy effect of the floral pollen (FP) present in the samples. Data shows an antagonist effect was observed when assessing the carotenoid content, and a synergy effect often presents for antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity for bee pollen samples. The bioactive capacities of the honeybee pollen and their synergy effect could apply to develop new functional ingredients for the food industry.

Graphical Abstract

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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