Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen is flower pollen collected by honeybees from a variety of plants and is the insect's primary food source. Pollen grains, which are flowers' male reproductive cells, contain concentrations of phytochemicals and nutrients. Bee pollen is rich in carotenoids, flavonoids and phytosterols. The exact profile varies depending on the plant sources and growing conditions; however, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, lycopene, quercetin and rutin are consistently reported.1

Studies show promising results regarding pollen's potential. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of 60 men, researchers from the department of urology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, found pollen extract was an effective treatment for prostate enlargement and prostatitis.2 In another study, mice with lung cancer survived almost twice as long when treated with pollen extracts compared with untreated controls. Pollen increased the effectiveness of chemotherapy when given simultaneously. Unlike chemotherapy, pollen didn't attack tumors but stimulated immunity.3 The pollen dose ranged from 0.2 to 10 mg per day.

In a third study, rats were exposed to solvent vapors 30 hours per week for three months, simulating industrial exposure. This elevated their liver enzymes, indicating diminished detoxification capabilities. Rats given 60 mg/kg body weight of pollen extracts had significantly lower liver-enzyme levels than untreated controls. Liver damage in the control rats increased their serum cholesterol 104 percent and triglycerides 37 percent, increases that were nearly prevented in rats given pollen.4

REFERENCES

1. Markham KR, Campos M. 7- and 8-o-methylherbacetin-3-o- sophorosides from bee pollens and some structure/activity observations. Phytochemistry 1996;43:763-7.

2. Buck AC, et al. Treatment of outflow tract obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia with the pollen extract Cernilton, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Urol 1990;66:398-404.

3. Furusawa E, et al. Antitumor potential of pollen extract on Lewis lung carcinoma implanted intraperitoneally in syngenic mice. Phytother Res 1995;9:255-9.

4. Ceglecka M, et al. Effect of pollen extracts on prolonged poisoning of rats with organic solvents. Phytother Res 1991:5;245-9.