Biochemical properties of different Algerian bee pollen samples.

This article focuses on the assessment of fourteen Algerian bee pollen samples for their phenolic composition and diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, enzymatic, wound healing, antiviral (anti-Herpes Simplex Virus 1, anti-HSV-1), and DNA protection effects. Using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (RP-HPLC-UV), the study identified various phenolic acids, flavonoids, and stilbenes, with significant variation among samples. The bee pollen extracts showed selective antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Yersinia pestis), inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase enzymes, activation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), DNA protective effects (notably in samples P6 and P10), wound healing potential (notably P4, P7, P8, and P14), and antiviral activity against HSV-1 (notably P7). Statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), indicated that the biological activities correlated with phenolic compound content rather than the geographic or botanical origin of the pollen. The findings suggest that Algerian bee pollen possesses promising bioactive properties warranting further research into their health and nutritional applications.