Enhancing the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Review of Processing Techniques

Bee pollen is recognized as a superfood due to its high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, its bioavailability is restricted by a degradation-resistant outer layer known as exine. Physical and biotechnological techniques have recently been developed to degrade this layer and impr...

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Main Authors: María Alcalá-Orozco, Isabella Lobo-Farfan, Diego F. Tirado, Diana C. Mantilla-Escalante
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/21/3437
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author María Alcalá-Orozco
Isabella Lobo-Farfan
Diego F. Tirado
Diana C. Mantilla-Escalante
author_facet María Alcalá-Orozco
Isabella Lobo-Farfan
Diego F. Tirado
Diana C. Mantilla-Escalante
author_sort María Alcalá-Orozco
collection DOAJ
description Bee pollen is recognized as a superfood due to its high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, its bioavailability is restricted by a degradation-resistant outer layer known as exine. Physical and biotechnological techniques have recently been developed to degrade this layer and improve pollen’s nutritional and functional profile. This review examines how processing methods such as fermentation, enzymatic hydrolysis, ultrasound, and drying affect pollen’s chemical profile, nutrient content, and bioactive compounds. The review also considers changes in exine structure and possible synergistic effects between these methods. In addition, the challenges associated with the commercialization of processed bee pollen are examined, including issues such as product standardization, stability during storage, and market acceptance. The objective was to provide an understanding of the efficacy of these techniques, their physicochemical conditions, and their effect on the nutritional value of the pollen. The work also analyzes whether pollen transformation is necessary to maximize its benefits and offers conclusions based on the analysis of available methods, helping to determine whether pollen transformation is a valid strategy for inclusion in functional foods and its impact on consumer health. Although the literature reports that pollen transformation influences its final quality, further studies are needed to demonstrate the need for pollen exine modification, which could lead to greater market availability of pollen-based products with functional properties.
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spelling doaj-art-4a544567a80047f99828fe21fd09594f2024-11-08T14:36:15ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-10-011321343710.3390/foods13213437Enhancing the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Review of Processing TechniquesMaría Alcalá-Orozco0Isabella Lobo-Farfan1Diego F. Tirado2Diana C. Mantilla-Escalante3Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD), Sede Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130015, ColombiaDirección Académica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede de La Paz, La Paz 202017, ColombiaDirección Académica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede de La Paz, La Paz 202017, ColombiaUniversidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD), Sede Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130015, ColombiaBee pollen is recognized as a superfood due to its high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, its bioavailability is restricted by a degradation-resistant outer layer known as exine. Physical and biotechnological techniques have recently been developed to degrade this layer and improve pollen’s nutritional and functional profile. This review examines how processing methods such as fermentation, enzymatic hydrolysis, ultrasound, and drying affect pollen’s chemical profile, nutrient content, and bioactive compounds. The review also considers changes in exine structure and possible synergistic effects between these methods. In addition, the challenges associated with the commercialization of processed bee pollen are examined, including issues such as product standardization, stability during storage, and market acceptance. The objective was to provide an understanding of the efficacy of these techniques, their physicochemical conditions, and their effect on the nutritional value of the pollen. The work also analyzes whether pollen transformation is necessary to maximize its benefits and offers conclusions based on the analysis of available methods, helping to determine whether pollen transformation is a valid strategy for inclusion in functional foods and its impact on consumer health. Although the literature reports that pollen transformation influences its final quality, further studies are needed to demonstrate the need for pollen exine modification, which could lead to greater market availability of pollen-based products with functional properties.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/21/3437superfoodexineintinesporopolleninpollen-based product
spellingShingle María Alcalá-Orozco
Isabella Lobo-Farfan
Diego F. Tirado
Diana C. Mantilla-Escalante
Enhancing the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Review of Processing Techniques
Foods
superfood
exine
intine
sporopollenin
pollen-based product
title Enhancing the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Review of Processing Techniques
title_full Enhancing the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Review of Processing Techniques
title_fullStr Enhancing the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Review of Processing Techniques
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Review of Processing Techniques
title_short Enhancing the Nutritional and Bioactive Properties of Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Review of Processing Techniques
title_sort enhancing the nutritional and bioactive properties of bee pollen a comprehensive review of processing techniques
topic superfood
exine
intine
sporopollenin
pollen-based product
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/21/3437
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