In this study we analysed mineral composition of bee pollen of different plant origin collected across Serbia using inductively coupled plasma -optical emission spectrometry. The most abundant elements were potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The samples were also exceptionally rich in iron and zinc, which are very important as nutrients. Judging by our findings, mineral composition of bee pollen much more depends on the type of pollen-producing plant than on its geographical origin. KEY WORDS: honey bee; geographical origin; macroelements; microelements; palynology; plant origin, nutritive value; toxicityIn addition to sugars, proteins, and lipids, bee pollen contains a variety of minerals. Mineral composition of pollen varies with the source location, source plant (1), and handling (2). If pollen has monofloral origin, some consistency in chemical composition can be expected. Otherwise, the composition of pollen can be considered as an average of plants that exist in a particular area (3). According to Campos et al. (4) and Serra-Bonvehí and Jordá (5), the content of major nutritional components can be averaged to 50 % of total carbohydrates, 2-16 % of polysaccharides and dietary fibres, 6-28 % of proteins, 4-8 % of lipids, and 6 % of free amino acids.Mineral content in pollen is usually expressed as ash content (6) or as the content of macro-and microelements (7-13). Only a few countries in the world (Brasil,

Information on compositional, nutritional and functional properties of bee-pollen, as a health-promoting food, is essential for defining its quality. Concerning the nutritional importance of phenolic compounds, the aim of this study was to determine the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of twenty-four bee-pollen samples collected from different regions of Serbia. High-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) fingerprinting was used for profiling of bee-pollen samples according to the botanical type. HPTLC hyphenated with image analysis and a pattern recognition technique confirmed the grouping of samples caused by the specific phenolic composition of pollens of different botanical origin. Flavonoid glycosides in bee-pollen samples were identified by applying ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LTQ Orbitrap MS). Eight out of twenty-seven flavonol glycosides were identified in bee-pollen samples for the first time. All analyzed bee-pollen samples showed a high number of phenolic compounds which may have therapeutic potential.

Bee pollen" is pollen collected from flowers by honey bees. It is used by the bees to nourish themselves, mainly by providing royal jelly and brood food, but it is also used for human nutrition. For the latter purpose, it is collected at the hive entrance as pellets that the bees bring to the hive. Bee pollen has diverse bioactivities, and thus has been used as a health food, and even as medication in some countries. In this paper, we provide standard methods for carrying out research on bee pollen. First, we introduce a method for the production and storage of bee pollen which assures quality of the product. Routine methods are then provided for the identification of the pollen's floral sources, and determination of the more important quality criteria such as water content and content of proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins, alkaloids, phenolic and polyphenolic compounds. Finally, methods are described for the determination of some important bioactivities of bee pollen such as its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antimutagenic properties. M etodos est andar Para la investigaci on del polenEl "polen de abeja" es el polen recogido de las flores por las abejas mel ıferas. El polen de abeja es utilizado para nutrir a las propias abejas, principalmente para proporcionar jalea real y alimento para las cr ıas, pero tambi en se utiliza para la nutrici on humana. Para este ultimo fin, se recoge en la entrada de la colmena en forma de gr anulos que las abejas llevan a la colmena. El polen de abeja tiene diversas bioactividades, por lo que se hautilizado como alimento para la salud, e incluso como medicamento en algunos pa ıses. En este art ıculo, proporcionamos m etodos est andar para llevar a cabo investigaciones sobre el polen de abeja. En primer lugar, presentamos un m etodo de producci on y almacenamiento de polen de abeja que garantiza la calidad del producto. A continuaci on, se ofrecen m etodos de rutina para la identificaci on de las fuentes florales del polen y la determinaci on de los criterios de calidad m as importantes, como el contenido de

Phytochemical analysis, the chemical investigation of plants, is a rapidly developing chemical discipline with various goals such as the determination of the substance classes and the isolation and qualitative and/or quantitative analyses of bioactive compounds or their structural analysis. The analysis of plants begins with optimizing extraction procedures because they play a key role in extraction outcomes, i.e., the isolation of bioactive compounds from natural products and the selection of the subsequent tests used in the analyses. The extraction is a critical step because it is necessary to extract the desired components of the complex natural matrix without destroying them. A wide range of techniques for the extraction of bioactive compounds from natural matrixes are currently available. This review aims to describe and compare the most commonly used methods, traditional/conventional and innovative/green. It will focus on the principles behind each method and on their strengths and limitations in order to help evaluate their suitability and economic feasibility, highlighting the advantages of new innovative techniques over conventional extraction procedures. Finally, the recent application of deep eutectic solvents as a new, eco-friendly method for the extraction of bioactive compounds from natural matrixes is also discussed.

The aim of this study is to develop a rapid, effect-directed screening method for quality assessment of bee pollen-honey mixtures. The comparative antioxidant potential and phenolic content of honey, bee pollen, and the bee pollen-honey mixtures, was performed using spectrophotometry. The total phenolic content and antioxidative activity of bee pollen-honey mixtures with 20 % bee pollen share were in the range 3.03 -3.11 mg GAE/g, and 6.02 -6.96 mmol TE/kg, respectively, while mixtures with 30 % bee pollen share contained 3.92 -4.18 mg GAE/g, and 9.69-10.11 mmol TE/kg. Chromatographic fingerprint of bee pollen-honey mixtures was performed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography with conditions developed by authors and reported for the first time. Fingerprint analysis hyphenated with chemometrics enabled authenticity assessments of honey in mixtures. Results indicate that bee pollen-honey mixtures represent a food with highly, both, nutritious characteristics and health-promoting effect.