Chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and diuretic effect of Moroccan fresh bee pollen in rats

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Aim: This study investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and diuretic effect of Moroccan aqueous extract of fresh bee pollen (AEFBP) in normal rats. Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of the extracted bioactive compounds was assessed using liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (LC/DAD/ ESI-MSn). 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and the reducing power were used to assess the antioxidant properties of the extract, together with the determination of total phenols and flavonoids. To assess the diuretic effect, 20 normal rats were divided into five groups: The first was a control group administered by distilled water (10 mL/kg body weight), the second group received furosemide (10 mg/kg body weight), the third group received 100 mg/kg body weight of AEFBP, the fourth group received 250 mg/kg body weight of AEFBP, and the fifth group received 500 mg/kg body weight of AEFBP for 30 days. Toward the end of this experiment, urine output was measured, and plasma and urine were sampled to analyze creatinine, potassium, chloride, and sodium levels. Results: N1,N5,N10-tri-p-coumaroylspermidine is a spermidine derivative and was the main compound in this sample, in a total of 19 compounds identified, including flavonoids, glucoside flavonoids, and methylated derivatives. Force feeding with the AEFBP induced a significant increase in urine output and urinary electrolyte levels with a dependent dose-effect without changes in plasma electrolytes, whereas furosemide decreased plasma potassium. Conclusion: Moroccan fresh bee pollen extract contains flavonols and spermidines that induce a potential antioxidant activity related to significant diuretic effect without changes in plasma composition.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020). National funding by FCTFoundation for Science and Technology, through the institutional scientific employment program-contract with Soraia I. Falcão and to the Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modeling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mehraz, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah, Fez, Morocco for providing the facilities to carry out the present research work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and hepato-protective effect of bee bread in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective: This study aims to shed a new light on pharmacological effects of bee bread as a product of the hive through examination of the effect of itsethyl acetate extract onhyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and liver dysfunction induced by streptozotocin. Materials and Methods: The bee bread ethyl acetate extract was analyzed for total phenolics, flavonoids, and the antioxidant activities using total antioxidant capacity, 2, 2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and reducing power assays. In vivo study was carried out on thirty-six rats divided into control or diabetic rats, received daily for 15 days distilled water (10 ml/kg), or ethyl acetate extract of bee bread (100 mg/kg), or glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg). The protective effect of bee bread against metabolic changes induced by streptozotocin in Wistar rats, was evaluated by checking the blood glucose levels, lipid profile, atherogenic index, coronary risk index, cardiovascular risk index, body weight and hepatic enzyme markers in normal and diabetic rats. Glibenclamide was used as standard drug to compare the efficacy of bee bread. Results: The results indicate that bee bread ethyl acetate extract has a high content of phenolics and flavonoids and a strong antioxidant activity. Glycemia, lipid profile and hepatic enzymes were modified in diabetic rats. These modifications were ameliorated after the treatment withbee bread extract which was more potent than glibenclamide. Conclusion: In summary, ethyl acetate extract of bee bread possesses effective glycemia lowering effects and representsa natural source of new bioactive molecules for future therapy of hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and liver dysfunction

Moroccan Monofloral Bee Pollen: Botanical Origin, Physicochemical Characterization, and Antioxidant Activities

In this study, eight monofloral bee pollen samples were collected from different apiaries in Morocco. Botanical origins of the bee pollen samples were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the physicochemical parameters (pH, moisture, ash, and the mineral contents) were determined. Total phenolic, flavones/flavonols contents were evaluated, and the antioxidant potential was assessed using total antioxidant capacity, DPPH, ABTS, and reducing power assays. Data showed that pH, moisture, and ash content values ranged between 4.19 ± 0.17 and 4.82 ± 0.36, 10.7 ± 0.04% and 26.8 ± 0.01%, and 1.81 ± 0.10% and 4.22 ± 0.08%, respectively. Potassium and magnesium were the most abundant minerals in bee pollen samples; heavy metals were not detected except for two samples (P5 and P6) where a very small amount of lead was found. The protein content in these samples varied between 19.86 ± 0.36 mg/100 g and 30.32 ± 0.12 mg/100 g of bee pollen. The phenolic content, flavones/flavonols content, and total antioxidant capacity were 21.87 ± 1.80 mgEAA/g, 2.37 ± 0.16 mgEAA/g, and 6.23 ± 0.21 mgEAA/g, respectively. High scavenging activity of DPPH and ABTS radicals was found in P2 with the lower IC50 of 0.245 ± 0.009 mg/ml and 0.19 ± 0.005 mg/ml, respectively. The lower EC50 was 0.133 ± 0.036 mg/ml found in P1 for the reducing power test. The current study is considered to be the first step to the standardization of Moroccan bee pollen

Microbiological Quality, Physicochemical Properties, and Antioxidant Capacity of Honey Samples Commercialized in the Moroccan Errachidia Region

An examination of possible effect of hot desert climate on microbiological safety and physicochemical and antioxidant properties of honey marketed in the province of Errachidia in Morocco was made. The assessment of microbiological properties showed no alarming sign of microbiological contamination or quality deterioration. This can be seen by the low moisture content in all analysed samples, which was below 20% (the maximum allowed in honey), and acid pH which was raging from 3.32 ± 0.05 to 4.37 ± 0.12. The ash content values ranged between 0.02 ± 0.01% and 0.23 ± 0.001%, and the electrical conductivity ranged between 87.4 ± 0.42 and 1148.06 ± 2.16 mS/cm. Considering the mineral content, the potassium was the most abundant species in all the analysed samples. The phenol content values varied from 17.35 ± 2.15 mg GAE/100 g in H7 to 219.026 ± 2.26 mg GAE/100 g in H9. Similarly, the same behavior was seen in the case of the other bioactive subfamilies of phenolic compound flavonoid content. Hence, the highest value of flavonoids, flavones, and flavanols was detected in H9, and the minimum value was observed in sample H7. A negative correlation was found between the bioactive fraction of honey samples and free radical scavenging activity assessed as IC50, the concentration of honey that scavenges 50% of the used free radicals. The bioactive fraction, the antioxidant assays, and their correlation values showed the same profile in comparison to the honey samples of other Moroccan regions

Potential effect of Silybum marianum L. and Cistus ladaniferus L. extracts on urine volume, creatinine clearance and renal function

Objective: To investigate the diuretic and renal effects of Silybum marianum L. and Cistus ladaniferus L. in normal rats. Methods: Four groups of rats were used in each experiment. The first group received water, the second group received Cistus ladaniferus L. extract (100 mg/kg b.wt), the third group received Silybum marianum L. extract (100 mg/kg b.wt), and the fourth group received furosemide (10 mg/kg b.wt). Variables including urine volume, plasma and urine sodium, potassium and creatinine, and creatinine clearance were measured. Two experiments were conducted. A single dose of each intervention was used and the variables were measured during 24 h, and the interventions were given daily for a total of 8 d and the variables were measured during various intervals. Results: The single dose of each plant extract increased urine volume at all-time intervals and increased urine sodium and potassium excretion without affecting plasma sodium and potassium (P<0.05). On the day 8 after daily administration, the plant extracts induced a significant diuresis and natriuresis without affecting serum electrolytes (P<0.05), while furosemide caused hypokalemia. Both plant extracts significantly increased creatinine clearance (P<0.05). Conclusions: Silybum marianum L. and Cistus ladaniferus L. increase creatinine clearance and have a significant diuretic effect without affecting serum electrolytes. Silybum marianum L. is more potent than furosemide or Cistus ladaniferus L

Antioxidant activity and protective effect of bee bread (honey and pollen) in aluminum-induced anemia, elevation of inflammatory makers and hepato-renal toxicity

Aluminum toxicity might be related to oxidative stress, and the antioxidant activity and protective effect of bee bread, which contains pollen, honey and bees' enzymes, on aluminum induced blood and hepato-renal toxicity was investigated in rats. Chemical analysis and antioxidant capacity of bee bread were conducted. The animal experiment in rats included; group 1: received distilled water (10 ml/kg b.wt), group 2: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt), group 3: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt) and ethanolic extract of the bee bread (500 mg/kg b.wt), and group 4: received aluminum chloride (662.2 mg/kg b.wt) and ethanolic extract of the bee bread (750 mg/kg b.wt). Doses were given once daily via a gavage. C-reactive protein, transaminases, urea, creatinine, creatinine clearance, sodium and potassium and urine sodium and potassium were determined on day 28 of the experiment. Bee bread contained protein, fat, fiber, ash, carbohydrate, phenol and flavonoids and it exhibited antioxidant activity. Aluminum caused a significant elevation of blood urea, transaminase, C-reactive protein and monocyte count and significantly decreased hemoglobin. These changes were significantly ameliorated by the use of bee bread. Bee bread has an antioxidant property, and exhibited a protective effect on aluminum induced blood and hepato-renal toxicity and elevation of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, leukocyte and monocyte counts

Chemical analysis and antioxidant content of various propolis samples collected from different regions and their impact on antimicrobial activities

Objective: To assess the antioxidant content, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of various propolis samples. Methods: Seven propolis samples were collected from different locations in Morocco, which are characterized by different plant predominant vegetations. The resin, wax and balsam of hydroalcoholic extract of propolis content were identified, and the antioxidant content was analyzed with the use of HPLC and colorimetric methods. The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH, ABTS.+ and ferric reducing power assays. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against bacterial species, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, and expressed as the minimal inhibitory concentration. Results: The propolis samples showed significant variations in the chemical composition and in the antioxidant or antimicrobial activities even when the samples were collected from the same location. Propolis with high resin and low wax content had high level of antioxidant compounds, and strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Gram-positive bacteria, especially, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus were more sensitive to all propolis samples than Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans. Conclusions: The chemical composition and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of various propolis samples are different and rely on the geographic and plant origin of propolis collection. Propolis samples with low wax and high resin content might be more suitable to be used in future preclinical or clinical investigations