Chemical characterization and biological properties of royal jelly samples from the mediterranean area

Royal jelly (RJ) is a bee product that has high nutritional value and is beneficial for the human health, earning importance as a functional food. Thus, the characterization of its main biological properties is with high importance. In this work, 6 RJ samples obtained in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain were evaluated in terms of total phenol and flavone/flavonol contents; total protein; 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA); volatiles composition; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; and inhibition of tyrosinase, xanthine oxidase (XO), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities. Total phenolic content ranged from 3 to 9 mg gallic acid equivalent/g RJ, and flavone/flavonol content from 0.1 to 0.5 mg quercetin equivalent/g RJ. 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid content varied from 0.9% to 1.2% and total protein from 5.5% to 29.7%. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed RJ volatiles dominated by linolenic acid, 2-decenoic acid, and octanoic acid in variable amounts. The antioxidant activity was monitored through nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging capacity, where the IC50 ranged from 2.3 to 3.4 and 0.2 to 1.5 mg/mL, respectively. Anti-AChE activity IC50 ranged from 0.7 to 4.6 mg/mL, while XO inhibition IC50 ranged from 3.3 to 11.9 mg/mL. The results showed that phenols and flavonoids highly contributed to the RJ biological properties in contrast to 10-HDA and proteins.UID/AMB/50017/2019 UIDB/05183/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diuretic activity of carob (Ceratonia silique L.) Honey: comparison with furosemide

Background: Honey has wide range of biological activities. It has effect on renal function, and urinary nitric oxide and prostaglandins level. The present study was conducted to evaluate diuretic potential of carob honey, collected from Morocco, in normal rats and the results were compared with use of furosemide.Materials and methods: Adult male Wister rats weighing between 230 and 278 g were used. The animals were divided into three groups; group 1 received oral administration of distilled water (10 ml/kg BW), and served as control group, group 2 received oral administration of furosemide (10 mg/kg BW), and group 3 was treated with oral administration of carob honey (100 mg/kg BW). Urine volume, and urine and plasma sodium and potassium were measured after single dose of the interventions and after daily administrations of the interventions.Results: After the single dose of carob honey, urine output was significantly increased at all time intervals (1-6 hrs and at 24 hrs after administration). The daily dose of carob honey for nine days significantly increased urine volume as compared to control group. Carob honey increased urinary levels of sodium and potassium, and did not cause hypokalemia, while furosemide increased urinary sodium and potassium and caused hypokalemia.Conclusion: Carob honey has diuretic, natriuretic and kaliuretic activity without side effects of hypokalemia that was observed with use of furosemide.Key words: Carob honey, furosemide, diuresis, sodium, potassium, creatinine clearanc

Antioxidant activities, total phenol an flavonoid contents of two Teucrium polium subspecies extracts

The soxhlet extracts of two subspecies from Moroccan Teucrium polium were examined for their antioxidant activities, total polyphenol and total flavonoids contents.The Antioxidant activities was evaluated in vitro spectrophotometrically using  four methods, such as ABTS+·, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrzyl (DPPH·), ferric reducing antioxidant power and phosphomolybdenum assay. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents  were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu test and aluminum chloride colorimetric method, respectively. The total phenol contents, flavonoids contents and antioxidant activities of T. polium subsp. polium extracts were higher than T. polium subsp. aurum. The phenols contents ranged from 112.27 to 4.38 mg GA E/ g dry extract. The total flavonoids varied between 174.57 and 40.42 mg RE/ g dry weight. The extract showed significant scavenging activity of  ABTS+·  and  DPPH·, with IC50 values ranging from 0.38 to 5 mg/ml and from 0.23 to 4.02 mg/ml, respectively. Moreover all extracts showed a good ferric reducing antioxidant power with EC50 values varying between 0.19 and 3.94 mg/ml. The total antioxidant capacity assay revealed that the water extract of T. polium subsp. aurum had a high activity with a value of 220 mg VitCE/g dry weight. The ethyl acetate extract has a weak antioxidant activity in the four tests. These results shows that Moroccan T. polium subspecies are a rich source of phenols and natural antioxidant compounds, which can be used as a natural food preservative

Effect of antioxidant-rich propolis and bee pollen extracts against D-glucose induced Type 2 Diabetes in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of propolis, bee pollen and their combination on Type 2 diabetes induced by D-glucose in rats. The study was carried out by feeding daily two concentrations (100 and 200 mg/Kg BW) of propolis or bee pollen (or their combination to normal (non-diabetic) and diabetic rats for a period of 16 weeks. In vivo biochemical changes associated to diabetes are induced by drinking a solution containing 10% of D-glucose (diabetic rats). The in vitro antioxidant activity was also evaluated and the chemical composition of propolis and bee pollen extracts was determined by UHPLC-DAD. Phytochemical composition of propolis and bee pollen revealed the presence of several natural antioxidants, such as hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols and stilbens. The major antioxidant compound present in propolis was Naringin (290.19±0.2 mg/Kg) and in bee pollen was apigenin (162.85±17.7 mg/Kg). These results have been related with a high antioxidant activity, more intense in propolis extract. In rats, the administration of D-glucose had induced hyperglycemia (13.2 ± 0.82 mmol/L), increased plasmatic insulin levels (25.10 ± 2.12 U/L) and HOMA-IR index (14.72 ± 0.85) accompanied with dyslipidemia, elevation of hepatic enzyme levels, and a change in both serum renal biomarkers and plasmatic calcium. The co-administration of propolis and bee pollen extracts alone or in combination restored these biochemical parameters and attenuated the deleterious effects of D-glucose on liver and kidney functions. Furthermore, these effects were better attenuated in the combined therapy-prevented diabetic rats. Hence, it is possible to conclude that propolis and bee pollen can be used as a preventive natural product against diabetes induced dyslipidemia and hepato-renal damage.This work was supported by a grant from Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ). This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and Bio Tec Norteoperation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under the scope of Norte2020-Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Zlatina Genisheva is supported by the project OH2O (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029145) funded by FCT and FEDER under the scope of Programa Operacional de Competividade e Internacionalizaçao (POCI)-COMPETE 2020 and PORTUGAL2020. Pedro Santos is recipient of a fellowship supported by a doctoral advanced training (call NORTE-69-2015-15), funded by the European Social Fund under the scope of Norte2020 (NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000036).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exploring the palynological, chemical, and bioactive properties of non-studied bee pollen and honey from Morocco

Bee products are known for their beneficial properties widely used in complementary medicine. This study aims to unveil the physicochemical, nutritional value, and phenolic profile of bee pollen and honey collected from Boulemane–Morocco, and to evaluate their antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activity. The results indicate that Citrus aurantium pollen grains were the majority pollen in both samples. Bee pollen was richer in proteins than honey while the inverse was observed for carbohydrate content. Potassium and calcium were the predominant minerals in the studied samples. Seven similar phenolic compounds were found in honey and bee pollen. Three phenolic compounds were identified only in honey (catechin, caffeic acid, vanillic acid) and six phenolic compounds were identified only in bee pollen (hesperidin, cinnamic acid, apigenin, rutin, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol). Naringin is the predominant phenolic in honey while hesperidin is predominant in bee pollen. The results of bioactivities revealed that bee pollen exhibited stronger antioxidant activity and effective α-amylase and α-glycosidase inhibitory action. These bee products show interesting nutritional and bioactive capabilities due to their chemical constituents. These features may allow these bee products to be used in food formulation, as functional and bioactive ingredients, as well as the potential for the nutraceutical sector.This work was supported by a grant from the University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah. Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ). This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Competitiveness Factors Operational program—Norte 2020, COMPETE and National Funds through the FCT—under the project AgriFood XXI (NORTE- 01-0145-FEDER-000041).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Unveiling the techno-functional and bioactive properties of bee pollen as an added-value food ingredient

Bee pollen is an imperative product for human use. Seven bee pollens were harvested from Morocco, and their chemical, biological and techno-functional properties were studied. All samples showed acceptable physicochemical and nutritional quality with a mean energy value of 239 kcal/100g. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of major constituents like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and polyphenols. Moreover, pollens exhibited good techno-functional properties, like carbohydrate solubility (34.47-59.27 g/100g), protein solubility (7.28-23.31 g/100g), emulsifying stability (16.52-45.38 min), emulsifying activity (9.83-25.05 g/m3) water absorption capacity (1.06-2.19 g/g), oil absorption capacity (1.15-3.50 g/g) and water-oil absorption index (0.62-1.25). Bee pollen extracts revealed potent antioxidant capacity and digestive enzyme inhibitory activity associated with the presence of fifteen phenolic compounds belonging to flavons, flavonols, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, and stilbenes families. Present data indicate the possible application of bee pollen as a useful nutritional, bioactive and anti-foaming ingredient, replacing synthetic products in food industries.This work was supported by a grant from the University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah. Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health, and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ). This research was also funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, by LABBELS—Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020, and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Competitiveness factors Operational program – Norte 2020, COMPETE and by National Funds through the FCT - under the project AgriFood XXI (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000041).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio