Macro- and Oligo-Mineral Elements from Honeybee-Collected Pollen and Beebread Harvested from Transylvania (Romania)

Abstract

Honeybee-collected pollen and beebread are consumed for api-therapeutical purposes for their nutritional and medicinal proper ties. In its composition it presents valuable nutrients, among which we can find minerals and oli go-elements, which is the objective of this study. The macro- and micro-nutrient content of honeybee-collected pollen and beebread samples from Transylvania was determined. We have analyzed potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc by atomic absorption spectroscopy after dry ashing wit h air-acetylene flame. Potassium occurred at the highest concentrations in all tested bee pollen and beebread samples, with average concentrations ranging between 3605.37-6033.69 mg/kg, followed by calcium (824.38- 1328.04) and magnesium (583.49-2260.19 mg/kg). In addition, the oligo-elem ents determined presented average values ranged between 37.80-65.38 mg/kg for iron and 27.34-35.01 mg/kg for zinc. These results confirm that Romanian honeybee-collected pollen and beebread can be used by man as a natural source of minerals.