Honey is not only a food source but also a valuable substance for health and medicine, owing to its complex composition and bioactive properties. However, there is very limited information on the changes in the active compounds of honey during digestion and their antioxidant capacity and effect on cancer cells at the end of digestion. Herein, we investigate the dynamic changes in their bioactive compound compos...
Natural sporopollenin microcapsules (SMCs) derived from pollen offer versatility and efficiency for different applications, from environmental remediation to food and therapeutics delivery. A critical gap remains in understanding the relationship between SMCs morphologies and their effectiveness in drug loading and delivery. Herein, we encapsulated 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a model anticancer drug, into SMCs deriv...
The outer layer of the pollen grain, which plays a crucial role in the continuity of terrestrial plant life, has received significant attention due to its robustness, chemical inertness, and biocompatible structure made of sporopollenin. Herein, we present a straightforward method for producing high-purity (up to 97%) polymeric sporopollenin biocapsules (S-BioCaps) from bee pollen, exploring new plant sources f...
Pollen, the male gametophyte of flowering plants, is collected by honeybees as a primary source of protein and converted into bee pollen through the enzymatic activity of digestive secretions. The nutrients in bee pollen are available in amounts well beyond those of proteins, comprising macronutrients such as carbohydrates, lipids and dietary fiber, as well as micronutrients such as minerals, vitamins, organic ...
Exine, in the form of a natural microcapsule, refers to the outermost layer of the pollen grains and is composed of a complex mixture of sporopollenin, a highly resistant polymer, which makes it durable and able to withstand harsh conditions. Distinctive features of sporopollenin have attracted interest in the encapsulation of bioactive substances. Herein, we describe the pathway to producing sporopollenin micr...
Nowadays, bee products are commended by consumers for their medicinal and dietary properties. This study aimed to differentiate between monofloral bee pollens originating from Portugal using phenolic and volatile profiles and investigate their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Total phenolic and flavonoid compounds were recorded between 2.9-35.8 mg GAE/g and 0.7-4.8 mg QE/g, respectively. The LC/DAD/ESI-MSn a...
Bee pollen is frequently characterized as a natural source of bioactive components, such as phenolic compounds, which are responsible for its pharmaceutical potential and nutritional properties. In this study, we evaluated the bioactive compound contents of mono- and polyfloral bee pollen samples using spectroscopic and chromatographic methods and established links with their antioxidant and antitumor activity....
Consumers are making their lifestyle healthier by changing diet, so food producers are exploring the enrichment of daily products using natural additives with nutraceutical properties. The addition of bee products is a good example, enabling a positive input in nutrients at the same time that the phytochemical substances present on it, may add complementary bioactive functions. This study centred on formulating...
Bee pollen (BP) and bee bread (BB) have been often investigated as potential functional foods. Both bee products are generally characterized by their high nutritional content, with BB being referred as more digestible than BP, however, there is a lack of scientific studies proving this claim. Here, we present a comparative evaluation of the macronutrient digestibility of BP and BB after applying a simulated in ...
The production and design of innovative in-body microcarrier platforms for the controlled delivery of bioactive substances to predefined sites continue to hold substantial promise for biotechnology and medicine by increasing their therapeutic benefits. In this scope, plant pollen-based biocapsules, sporopollenin structures, have emerged as an alternative to synthetic ones due to their low-cost, highly uniform s...