ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN CONTENT AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LINDEN AND HAWTHORN POLLEN

Abstract

Harvested bee pollen has been used since ancient times for its healthy properties and nutritional value. In terms of composition, bee pollen contains a large number of different substances such as proteins, carbohydrates and lipids as well as phenolic organic compounds. The protein content is the second most abundant component, its levels (10 to 40%, w/w) depending on the type of plant. Recently, numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial properties of pollen in promoting health and reducing the risk of developing certain illnesses. In addition, the anti-oxidative and anti-aging effects have provided beneficial support for the development of bee pollen in the field of cosmetics. In this study, the effect of sonication treatment on the protein content of linden and hawthorn pollen was evaluated. Quantitative information regarding the protein content of sonicated extracts was determined by Bradford method while the antioxidant capacity of protein extract was evaluated using the DPPH free radical method. Furthermore, one dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometric analysis was used to acquire a more detailed description of pollen protein content.