title: Polyphenols from Bee Pollen: Structure, Absorption, Metabolism and Biological Activity.
abstract: Bee pollen constitutes a natural source of antioxidants such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are responsible for its biological activity. Research has indicated the correlation between dietary polyphenols and cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancerogenic, immunostimulating, antianaemic effects, as well as their beneficial influence on osseous tissue. The beneficial effects of bee pollen on health result from the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids which possess anti-inflammatory properties, phytosterol and linolenic acid which play an anticancerogenic role, and polysaccharides which stimulate immunological activity. Polyphenols are absorbed in the alimentary tract, metabolised by CYP450 enzymes, and excreted with urine and faeces. Flavonoids and phenolic acids are characterised by high antioxidative potential, which is closely related to their chemical structure. The high antioxidant potential of phenolic acids is due to the presence and location of hydroxyl groups, a carboxyl group in the immediate vicinity of ortho-diphenolic substituents, and the ethylene group between the phenyl ring and the carboxyl group. As regards flavonoids, essential structural elements are hydroxyl groups at the C5 and C7 positions in the A ring, and at the C3' and C4' positions in the B ring, and a hydroxyl group at the C3 position in the C ring. Furthermore, both, the double bond between C2 and C3, and a ketone group at the C4 position in the C ring enhance the antioxidative potential of these compounds. Polyphenols have an ideal chemical structure for scavenging free radicals and for creating chelates with metal ions, which makes them effective antioxidants in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 4, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. annastojko@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rzepecka-Stojko
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Bioanalysis and Environmental Studies, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Kasztanowa 3A, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. jstojko@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stojko
authors.affiliation: Silesian Medical College in Katowice, Mickiewicza 29, Katowice 40-085, Poland. anna.kurek_gorecka@swsm.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurek-Górecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Technology, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Jedności 8, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. mgorecki@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Górecki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Ostrogórska 30, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland. adzik@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kabała-Dzik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Ostrogórska 30, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland. rkubina@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubina
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Bioanalysis and Environmental Studies, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Kasztanowa 3A, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. amozdzierz@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moździerz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy with the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Jagiellońska 4, Sosnowiec 41-200, Poland. ebuszman@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buszman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001516:Bees; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols
keywords: antioxidants; bee pollen; natural product; polyphenols