Pollen is a vital product for bees, principally due to its critical role in the diet of their larvae. Plants contribute greatly to the sustenance of these insects, and they are in turn of notable importance in the pollination and reproduction of many plant groups. Apis mellifera L., is a very successful bee species due to its capacity to adapt to diverse environments. The material is compacted into pellets, which are used as food for bees and drones. Pollen consists of the male germ seeds of plants, flowers or blossoms on trees. nutrient-rich health food for many centuries and its benefits have been widely lauded. Bees use pollen as their nutritional source of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, including fatty acids vitamins and minerals. Bee pollen is a rich source of free amino acids, and for this reason its use in the human diet is very highly appreciated.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS

PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF POLLEN FROM HIGH LANDS MOUNTAINS IN BOYACA COLOMBIA

Salamanca, G. G.; Hernández, L. J.; Reyes, V. M.; Osorio, T. M.; Muñoz, C. E.; Vargas, G. E.; Gutiérrez, O. M.; Tapiero, C. J.

Grupo de Investigaciones Mellitopalinológicas y Propiedades Fisicoquímicas de Alimentos Facultad de Ciencias - Departamento de Química. Universidad del Tolima. Barrio Santa Helena Parte Alta. Ibagué Colombia.

e-mail: salamancagrosso@gmail.com

Corbicular pollen is a product collected by bees from various botanical sources in a delicate process of agglomeration, where bees mixed with nectar and secretion from the hypopharyngeal glands such as β-glycosidase enzymes. It´s recognized as a functional product with nutraceutical properties. Bee pollen has a complex chemical composition constituted of carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, and is considered a good nutritional source, beneficial to health, particularly because of the presence of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to assess the physicochemical and nutritional composition harvest at highland mountains in Boyacá (Colombia).

Seventeen bee pollen samples corbicular were collected from different locations in the from highlands mountains in Boyacá. (5º 47´67722N; 6º 03´62´´N; 72º 44´49´´W; 73º 11´17´´W). Paipa, Tutaza; Paz del Rio and Sotaquirá. 2213 - 3100 O.V.L; 14 to 23°C. After collection, the bee pollens were carried to the laboratory for drying and subsequent evaluation of their physicochemical and nutritional properties.

Bee pollen harvested at highlands mountains in Boyacá, show significance differences in sensory and organoleptic properties. It can be explained if one consider the plant distribution at every each Holdrige´s zones. Nutritional compounds includes proteins, sugars, lipids, including fatty acids, carotens and xantophills, vitamins and minerals. The product is rich source of free amino acids, and for this reason its use in the human diet. In addition, the bee pollen samples are also a good source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity.