A multivariate approach based on physicochemical parameters and biological potential for the botanical and geographical discrimination of Brazilian bee pollen

Author(s)

Machado De-Melo, Adriane Alexandre ^[1] ; Estevinho, Leticia M. ^{[2, 3]} ; Moreira, Manuela M. ^[4] ; Delerue-Matos, Cristina ^[4] ; de Freitas, Alex da Silva ^[5] ; Barth, Ortrud Monika ^{[6, 7]} ; de Almeida-Muradian, Ligia Bicudo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Food & Expt Nutr, Pharmaceut Sci Sch, BR-05580000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Polytech Inst Braganca, Agr Coll Braganca, Campus Santa Apolonia E, P-5301855 Braganca - Portugal

^[3] Univ Minho, Ctr Mol & Environm Biol, Campus Gualtar, P-4710057 Braga - Portugal

^[4] Polytech Inst Porto, Super Inst Engn, REQUIMTE, LAQV, P-4200072 Porto - Portugal

^[5] Fed Fluminense Univ, Lab Marine Geol, BR-24210340 Niteroi, RJ - Brazil

^[6] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Geosci, Lab Palynol, Dept Geol, BR-21949900 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[7] Oswaldo Cruz Inst, Lab Viral Morphol & Morphogenesis, BR-21040360 Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FOOD BIOSCIENCE; v. 25, p. 91-110, OCT 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Fifty six Brazilian bee pollen samples were characterised, and their botanical and geographical origins were studied. The samples were also classified based on physicochemical and biological properties. The characterisation was done using Soxhlet extraction and micro-Kjeldahl methods, ashing at 550 degrees C, transmittance, microscopy, spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. As expected, the values of proteins (7.9-32.2 g/100 g), lipids (3.2-13.5 g/100 g), ash (1.9-3.6 g/100 g), carbohydrates (54.9-82.8 g/100 g), K (3.4-9.8 g/kg), Ca (0.9-4.1 g/kg), Mg (0.6-2.4 g/kg), Fe (46-1180 mg/kg), Na (20-374 mg/kg), Mn (25-215 mg/kg), Zn (30-101 mg/kg), Cu (7.4-19.7 mg/kg), total phenolics (6.5-29.2 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (0.3-17.5 mg QE/g) as well as the phenolic profiles varied among the samples. In general, the products had high antioxidant capacity (ORAC: 133-563 mu mol TE/g; DPPH: 9.4-155 mu mol TE/g) and the antimicrobial capacity varied according to the sample and microorganism tested. The instrumental colour parameters could be used as indicators of some minerals. Based on multivariate approaches, bee pollen from Southern Brazil seemed to have a higher biological potential, whereas products from the Northeast region had higher calcium and magnesium levels. Similarities were identified in bee pollen containing C. nucifera or Brassica, and monofloral bee pollen seemed to have higher mineral content than heterofloral bee pollen. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/23179-6 - Phenolic compounds, microbiological quality and antimicrobial capacity of dehydrated bee pollen
• Grantee: Adriane Alexandre Machado de Melo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 11/11746-8 - Physicochemical characterization, microbiological quality, biological properties and botanical origin of dehydrated bee pollen
• Grantee: Adriane Alexandre Machado de Melo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate