Abstract:
The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the chemical and biological composition of 8 bee pollen samples and the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory ant anti-allergic potencies. Therefore, the samples of bee pollen collected from eight regions in the north of Algeria were palynologically analyzed to identify the botanical origins. The phenolic contents (polyphenols, flavonoids and flavanols) of the ethanolic extracts were quantified, before proceeding to a characterization of the phenolic profile by LC-MS. The antioxidant activity was tested in vitro by 8 complementary methods: DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, SNP, OPhenanthroline, GOR and β-carotene. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated in vivo and the extract with the best activity was used to assess the anti-allergic effect in vivo on an animal model of pollen respiratory allergy. Pollen proteins were quantified and analyzed by SDS-page. The results of the palynological analysis revealed that all bee pollen samples are heterofloral with the identification of 40 types of pollens. The dosages of phenolic compounds showed that the extracts are very rich in polyphenols, flavonoids and flavonols. The in vitro study demonstrated that all the extracts possess an antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity in vivo showed that the most extracts have a good anti-inflammatory potency, however the best activity was recorded with the extract of Jijel. The significant variations noted between the effects of the extracts in the different activities were explained by the phenolic profiles. The results obtained by allergic symptom scores, serum proteins electrophoresis and the lung
histological investigations proved that the extract of Jijel show a good anti-allergic effect. The SDS-page electrophoretic profiles confirmed the variation in the composition of the various pollens. Our results confirmed that the variability of bee pollen is linked to the botanical origins as well as to the edaphoclimatic conditions. These results underline the richness of bee pollen in phenolic compounds endowed with a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic potential.
