| Summary: | The aim of this study was to determine the palynological origin, phenolic content, antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity of honeybee- collected pollen from five Portuguese Natural-Parks [Parque Nacional Peneda Geres (PNPG); Parque Natural do Montesinho (PNM); Parque Natural do Alvao (PNA); Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela (PNSE) and Parque Natural do Douro Internacional (PNDI)]. Eight families were found in the mixture of bee pollen: Rosaceae, Cistaceae, Boraginaceae, Asteraceae, Fagaceae, Ericaeae, Myrtaceae and Fabaceae. The phenolic compounds content, determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, varied between 10.5 and 16.8 mg of gallic acid equivalents/ g of extract (mg GAE/ g) found in bee pollen from PNM and PNDI, respectively. The free radical scavenging measured showed the highest effective extract - PNM with ECSO 2.16, followed by PND with 2.24 mg/ mL. In the 0-carotene bleaching assay the same behaviour as in the DPPH method was verified. We also verified that the presence of pollen differentially affected the growth of bacteria Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fetmentative yeasts under study, depending on the microorganism and the type of bee pollen used. This is an important study since, as far we know, it is the first time that Portuguese bee pollen from Natural Parks was studied, and their characterization can increase their economic value.
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