Recent research shows variations in pollen chemical constituents and, consequently, in their therapeutic properties. Mono and multifloral bee pollen extracts were investigated for antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activity properties, phenolic compounds and fatty acid composition. Generally, Eucalyptus spp. and multifloral extracts exhibited potent inhibitory activity against α-amylase, acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, lipoxygenase, lipase and hyaluronidase. On the other hand, Miconia spp. demonstrated higher antihemolytic activity. Cocos nucifera and Miconia spp. extracts exhibited important antioxidant properties in the different assays (ABTS, DPPH, β-carotene/linoleic acid and reducing power). Moreover, these extracts had greater amounts of total phenols and flavonoids in comparison to others. The increase in antioxidant activity (decrease in EC₅₀ values) was accompanied by an increase in the amount of total phenols in the extracts. The pollen extracts contained linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid as major fatty acids, followed by palmitic acid, and oleic acid. In this study, differences were observed in both chemical constituents and biological activities of the samples related to the geographical and botanical origin of bee pollen.

Traditionally, melissopalynological and physicochemical analyses have been the most used to determine the botanical origin of honey. However, when performed individually, these analyses may provide less unambiguous results, making it difficult to discriminate between mono and multifloral honeys. In this context, with the aim of better characterizing this beehive product, a selection of 112 Lavandula spp. monofloral honey samples from several regions were evaluated by association of multivariate statistical techniques with physicochemical, melissopalynological and phenolic compounds analysis. All honey samples fulfilled the quality standards recommended by international legislation, except regarding sucrose content and diastase activity. The content of sucrose and the percentage of Lavandula spp. pollen have a strong positive association. In fact, it was found that higher amounts of sucrose in honey are related with highest percentage of pollen of Lavandula spp.. The samples were very similar for most of the physicochemical parameters, except for proline, flavonoids and phenols (bioactive factors). Concerning the pollen spectrum, the variation of Lavandula spp. pollen percentage in honey had little contribution to the formation of samples groups. The formation of two groups regarding the physicochemical parameters suggests that the presence of other pollen types in small percentages influences the factor termed as “bioactive”, which has been linked to diverse beneficial health effects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of lyophilization and drying in stove on phenolic compounds content and the biological activity of Apis mellifera and Trigona spinipes pollens produced in Brazil. In general, the bee pollen produced by T. spinipes presented highest antioxidant activity in dried and fresh samples assessed either by test of plasma ferric reduction capacity (FRAP) and free radical scavenging assay (DPPH) methods. For A. mellifera bee pollen the antioxidant activity was higher on the fresh samples. Nevertheless, β-carotene bleaching assay (BCB) and linoleic acid content were higher in T. spinipes samples, mainly in the fresh ones. Higher antioxidant activity was owing to higher content in phenolic compounds. Lyophilization method was the best for phenolic compounds’ conservation for both species. The bee pollen of both species has a high amount of flavonoids: kaempferol-3-O-glucoside was the most abundant in A. mellifera while for T. spinipes the most prevalent was resorcylic acid + epicatechin. All extracts presented antibacterial activity against Saphylococcus aureus (ATCC 43300)™, (ESA 83138150), (ESA 32), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442)™, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRC.4) and (MRC.10). The methods used for storage influenced the biological properties of bee pollen from both species. Regarding the content of phenolic compounds, differences were observed amongst the pollen types: for A. mellifera these were best preserved with lyophilization, while for T. spinipes the three storage methods were equivalent.

Bee pollen is a beehive product that has increased the attention of both researchers and consumers. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate 69 heterofloral dried bee pollen samples harvested in two regions of the northeast of Portugal (Mogadouro and Vimioso). For such, the botanical origin of the samples and several physicochemical parameters (moisture, pH, water activity, reducing sugar, proteins, lipids, ash, fibers, carbohydrates, energy, total phenolic, and flavonoids) were evaluated and the antioxidant potential was studied. The average percentage of pollen grains from Erica spp. and Cytisus spp. was higher (p < 0.05) in samples from Mogadouro, while Cistus spp., Castanea spp., and Echium spp. were more abundant in Vimioso samples. The pollen harvested in Vimioso presented higher values on proximate parameters as compared to other samples:moisture (4.61 ± 0.84%), lipids (4.94 ± 0.94%), ash (3.28 ± 0.93%), fiber (3.55 ± 1.11%), and carbohydrates (66.60 ± 3.52%).On the other hand, higher values were obtained on Mogadouro samples regarding water activity (0.41 ± 0.11), protein (26.09 ± 2.86%), total phenols (26.71 ± 6.19, expressed as mg of Gallic acid equivalents GAE/g), and antioxidant activity (assessed by β-carotene bleaching [3.35 ± 1.17 mg/mL] or the free radical scavenging assay [2.98 ± 0.63 mg/mL]). All bee pollen samples had a great botanical similarity, yet the dominant pollen types were different between the two regions allowing the classification of the samples according to the geographical origin.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) is an oleaginous species of the Brassicaceae family, being the third most produced oleaginous in the world. Rapeseed can produce fruits and seeds from both self-pollination and cross-pollination. However, cross-pollination rate is approximately 30% and may suffer variations due to the abundance and diversity of pollinator insects, cultivar and meteorological conditions. Different researchers have reported that pollination by insects, especially Apis mellifera honeybee, on rapeseed flowers provides an increase in productivity, improving yield and contributing to the uniformity and initial pod establishment. It is estimated that the economic value of A. mellifera honeybees for rapeseed cultivation in Brazil is US$ 8.2 million. The objective of this chapter is gathering data for a compilation of information regarding rapeseed culture and the importance of A. mellifera in Brassica napus pollination.