BEE POLLEN ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY - A REVIEW: ACHIEVEMENTS AND FURTHER CHALLENGES

Abstract

In the last decades, extensive literature has been published concerning bee pollen. The finding that pollen's flavonoid and phenolic profiles are species-specific, revolutionized bee pollen studies approach and increased the curiosity towards its potential antioxidant activity. In addition, the search for natural antioxidants had an amazing improvement over the years, justified by their safely character and effective but mild properties, as well as their recent popularity as alternative therapeutics in a rising and profitable market. Most studies suggest an intense correlation between bee pollen antioxidant activity and phenolic content, although a linear, direct relation is yet to be proved. The most used biochemical methodologies were described. Few published papers based their studies in in vivo systems, restraining therefore, the most important conclusions at this matter. These results are the only ones that can be transposed to living organisms, due to the antioxidant's role as potential pro-oxidants in vivo, at certain metabolic conditions and/or concentrations. The aim of the present work is to clarify and summarize all the progress that has been done in this matter and knowledge achieved, in order to direct further research and have a glimpse of what lies in the future and corresponding challenges.