Bioactive Properties and Phytochemical Screening of Mad Honey Bee Pollen

Abstract

Introduction: Mad honey is widely used in folk medicine in the Black Sea region of Turkey for its medicinal properties, but its pollen is not collected by mad honey producers and its benefits are unknown. Methods: In this study, water and ethanol extracts of mad honey bee pollen from four different plateaus in the Black Sea region of Turkey were researched for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Phytochemical analyses were carried out and the data were supported with UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Antimicrobial activity was researched against four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria, one fungus, and one yeast. The results were compared with standard antioxidants and antibiotics. Results: The ethanol extracts of the samples from Sinop (P5), Giresun (P7), and Trabzon (P8) were the most active samples as antioxidants, and almost all the extracts of R. ponticum bee pollen were effective on the tested microorganisms. However, P5-8 showed better values for B. cereus, E. feacalis, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa. Conclusion: It has been proven that mad honey bee pollen is a natural product with previously unknown medicinal properties and rich phytochemical content. Future research and clinical trials are important to scientifically support its benefits in complementary medicine.