Biochemical studies on pollen grains of some medicinal and classical plants [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

A study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional effect of pollens collected from some medicinal (palm, chamomile, coriander) and classical (sunflower) plants. Therefore, the gross chemical composition (ash, protein, lipid, total carbohydrate and fiber contents), fatty acids, amino acids, polyphenol patterns were determined. The results indicated that the gross chemical composition of pollens was largely dependent on their botanical origin. The gas chromatographic analysis of sunflower and palm pollens demonstrated that the most predominant saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were 22:0, 18:3 and 22:0, 18:1, respectively. Chamomile pollens were characterized by the highest concentrations of palmitic (12.73 %) and oleic (23.05%) acids as saturated and unsaturated ones, respectively. The pollens of coriander plants were distinguished by having the acids 16:0, 18:1 and 18:3 as major substances. The present results demonstrated that fatty acids, taken a group, may provide a key for the identification of pollen sources. The fatty acid patterns of pollens elucidated that the atherogenic index of the different pollens was arranged in descending order: chamomile > sunflower > coriander > palm. These findings suggest the use of chamomile pollens as a supplement for elderly people to overcome to some extent the corony heart disease. Seventeen amino acids were identified in all pollens using amino acid analyzer. In general, palm pollens contained the highest amounts of all essential amino acids compared with other pollen sources. The least limiting essential amino acids in all pollens were the sulfur amino acids (methionine + cysteine). According to the chemical score values, the quality of pollen proteins was arranged in the decreasing order: palm > sunflower > chamomile = coriander. HPLC chromatographic analysis indicated that chlorogenic acid was the most abundant polyphenol compound in pollens. The levels of chlorogenic acid in pollens were ranked in different plants according to the descending order: coriander > sunflower > chamomile > palm. Keywords: Pollen grain, Medicinal plant, Chemical composition, Fatty acid, Amino acid and Polyphenol patterns.

Summary in Arabic.

1