RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOTANICAL ORIGIN AND ANTIOXIDANTS VITAMINS OF BEE-COLLECTED POLLEN

This study quantified vitamin C, E and beta-carotene in samples of fresh bee-collected pollen and correlating them with the botanical origin. Vitamin content varied between 13.5 and 42.5 mu g/g for vitamin E; 56.3 and 198.9 mu g/g for beta-carotene and 273.9 and 560.3 mu g/g for vitamin C. It was concluded that the botanical origin and collecting season influenced the vitamin contents. There is a relationship between the vitamins and its botanical origin: Raphanus sp and Macroptilium sp, Mimosa caesalpineafolia with beta-carotene; Raphanus sp, Eucalyptus sp, Macroptilium sp, Mimosa caesalpineafolia with vitamin E and Anadenanthera sp, Arecaceae type and Philodendron sp with vitamin C.