TITLE:
Identification of Sugar, Amino Acids and Minerals from the Pollen of Jandaíra Stingless Bees (Melipona subnitida)
AUTHORS:
Girliane Regina da Silva, Tamires Botelho da Natividade, Celso Amorim Camara, Eva Monica Sarmento da Silva, Francisco de Assis Ribeiro dos Santos, Tania Maria Sarmento Silva
KEYWORDS:
Jandaíra Bees, Mineral, Amino Acids, Sugar
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.5 No.11,
June
17,
2014
ABSTRACT: The aim of this
investigation was to analyze two samples of pollen from jandaíra stingless bees
(Melipona subnitida) in view of their
mineral composition, free amino acids and sugars. Palynological analysis showed
that the predominant pollen was monofloral from Senna sp. species (94.5%, pollen 2011) and the second pollen sample
showed the presence of two primary species, Chamaecrista
sp. (39.2% pollen 2009) and Mimosa
tenuiflora (43.5%) (pollen 2009). The highest mineral content was
potassium. The bee pollen contained 20.8% and 31.0% of mannitol in samples from
2011 and 2009, respectively. Proline and serine are the predominant amino
acids. High content of essential amino acids, minerals and the sugar mannitol
confirmed high nutritional value of pollen samples from jandaíra bees.