<p>Bee pollen, the male gametophyte of flowers collected by honeybees, is considered a superfood due to its rich nutritional compounds and microelements. Despite its growing use as a functional food, scientific evidence on its nutritional and mineral composition remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the proximate composition and mineral content of bee pollen from <i>Eucalyptus camaldulensis</i>, <i>Guizotia abyssinica</i>, and <i>Acacia abyssinica</i> in Ethiopia to address this knowledge gap. Species-level variation in protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash, and mineral contents was observed, indicating that botanical origin strongly influences the nutritional properties of bee pollen. Among the three species, <i>Guizotia abyssinica</i>, a native oil-seed crop, was particularly rich in minerals and proximate compounds. Despite being collected from the same environmental conditions, significant differences in mineral levels and nutrient composition were evident among <i>E. camaldulensis</i>, <i>G. abyssinica</i>, and <i>A. abyssinica</i>, highlighting their species-specific nutritional profiles. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting bee pollen sources with high nutraceutical potential and contribute to the broader understanding of bee pollen composition for dietary and functional food applications.</p>

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Proximate composition and mineral analysis of bee pollen from three monofloral sources: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Guizotia abyssinica, and Acacia abyssinica

  • Kasim Roba Jilo,
  • Yadesa Abeshu Erena

摘要

Bee pollen, the male gametophyte of flowers collected by honeybees, is considered a superfood due to its rich nutritional compounds and microelements. Despite its growing use as a functional food, scientific evidence on its nutritional and mineral composition remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the proximate composition and mineral content of bee pollen from Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Guizotia abyssinica, and Acacia abyssinica in Ethiopia to address this knowledge gap. Species-level variation in protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash, and mineral contents was observed, indicating that botanical origin strongly influences the nutritional properties of bee pollen. Among the three species, Guizotia abyssinica, a native oil-seed crop, was particularly rich in minerals and proximate compounds. Despite being collected from the same environmental conditions, significant differences in mineral levels and nutrient composition were evident among E. camaldulensis, G. abyssinica, and A. abyssinica, highlighting their species-specific nutritional profiles. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting bee pollen sources with high nutraceutical potential and contribute to the broader understanding of bee pollen composition for dietary and functional food applications.