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

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°C, transmittance, microscopy, spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. As expected, the values of proteins (7.9–32.2g/100g), lipids (3.2–13.5g/100g), ash (1.9–3.6g/100g), carbohydrates (54.9–82.8g/100g), K (3.4–9.8g/kg), Ca (0.9–4.1g/kg), Mg (0.6–2.4g/kg), Fe (46–1180mg/kg), Na (20–374mg/kg), Mn (25–215mg/kg), Zn (30–101mg/kg), Cu (7.4–19.7mg/kg), total phenolics (6.5–29.2mgGAE/g)and flavonoids(0.3–17.5mgQE/g)as well as the phenolic profiles varied among the samples. In general, the products had high antioxidant capacity (ORAC: 133–563 μmol TE/g; DPPH: 9.4–155μmolTE/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.This study was funded by FAPESP (2011/51741-5). All authors are grateful to FAPESP for scholarships granted (2011/11746-8 and 2013/ 23179-6), to CNPq (304067/2013-0), and for the postdoctoral fellowship financed by POPH-QREN (SFRH/BPD/97049/2013). The authors are also grateful to beekeepers who provided samples.