Bee Pollen Extracts: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and Effect on the Growth of Selected Probiotic and Pathogenic Bacteria
Cornelia-Ioana Ilie,
Eliza Oprea,
Elisabeta-Irina Geana,
Angela Spoiala,
Mihaela Buleandra,
Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru,
Irinel Adriana Badea,
Denisa Ficai,
Ecaterina Andronescu,
Anton Ficai,
Lia-Mara Ditu
Affiliations
Cornelia-Ioana Ilie
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Eliza Oprea
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1–3 Aleea Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, Romania
Elisabeta-Irina Geana
National R&D Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies—ICIT, 4th Uzinei Street, 240050 Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania
Angela Spoiala
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Buleandra
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 90–92 Șoseaua Panduri, 050663 Bucharest, Romania
Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru
Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
Irinel Adriana Badea
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 90–92 Șoseaua Panduri, 050663 Bucharest, Romania
Denisa Ficai
National Centre for Micro and Nanomaterials and National Centre for Food Safety, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Ecaterina Andronescu
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Anton Ficai
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1–7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Lia-Mara Ditu
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1–3 Aleea Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, Romania
This paper evaluated the chemical and biological properties of bee pollen samples from Romania. Firstly, the bee pollen alcoholic extracts (BPEs) were obtained from raw bee pollen harvested by Apis mellifera carpatica bees. The chemical composition of BPE was obtained by determination of total phenol content and total flavonoid content, UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analysis of phenolic compounds, and GC-MS analysis of fatty acids, esters, and terpenes. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity method. Furthermore, the biological properties of BPE were evaluated (antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity). The raw BP samples studied in this paper had significant phenolic acid and flavonoid content, and moderate fatty acid, ester, and terpene content. P1, P2, and P4 have the highest TPC and TFC levels, and the best antioxidant activity. All BPEs studied had antimicrobial activity on pathogenic strains isolated from the clinic or standard strains. A synergistic antimicrobial effect of the BPEs was observed along with the soluble compounds of L. rhamnosus MF9 and E. faecalis 2M17 against some pathogenic (clinical) strains and, considering the tumour proliferation inhibitory activity, makes BP a potential prebiotic and antitumour agent for the gut environment.
