MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

18 pages, 3368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Different Diets on Growth and Development of Eastern Honey Bee (Apis cerana)

by Ruonan Liang, Cheng Liang, Yi Zhang, Jiaxing Huang and Guiling Ding

Insects 2025, 16(4), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040383 - 3 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 786

In recent years, honey bees have been stressed by multiple factors, with malnutrition posing a significant threat to the healthy development of honey bee colonies. To keep a colony healthy and productive, beekeepers supply their colonies with supplementary pollen or commercial pollen substitutes during periods of pollen dearth or insufficient pollen quantity or quality. In this study, we evaluated the effects of four natural pollen types (oilseed rape pollen, camellia pollen, lotus pollen and buckwheat pollen) and two commercial pollen substitutes (Diet 1 and Diet 2) against a control group (sucrose solution) on Apis cerana through cage experiments. The food consumption, live body weight, longevity, hypopharyngeal gland development and midgut proteolytic enzyme activity of caged workers were measured. The food consumption rates of oilseed rape pollen and buckwheat pollen were greater than the other diets. Oilseed rape pollen and camellia pollen were recognized as excellent-quality diets for hypopharyngeal gland development and midgut proteolytic enzyme activity. Over the entire experimental period, the caged workers fed with lotus pollen had a similar diet consumption and body weight to those fed with pollen substitutes, and these bees had a significantly higher survival rate than those fed with other diets. The results indicated that the commercial pollen substitutes appeared to be less beneficial to caged A. cerana workers than the natural pollen resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology and Conservation of Honey Bees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in the Activities of Antioxidant Enzymes in the Fat Body and Hemolymph of Apis mellifera L. Due to Pollen Monodiets

by Maciej Sylwester Bryś, Krzysztof Olszewski, Maciej Bartoń and Aneta Strachecka

Antioxidants 2025, 14(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14010069 - 9 Jan 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1591

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of monocultures has reduced floral diversity, diminishing pollen diet variety for bees. This study examines the impact of monofloral pollen diets (hazel, rapeseed, pine, buckwheat, Phacelia, goldenrod) on the antioxidant enzyme activities in the fat body from tergite 3, tergite 5, sternite, and hemolymph of honey bees. We show that pollen from plants such as rapeseed, Phacelia, buckwheat, and goldenrod (rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids) increases the activities of SOD, CAT, GST, and GPx in the fat body and hemolymph compared to the control group. Although it is commonly known that a monodiet is one of the stress factors for bees, the increase in the activities of these enzymes in the hemolymph and fat body of workers fed with pollen candy compared to those fed only sugar candy has a positive (although inconclusive) effect. These activities in the hemolymph and fat body of bees fed with pollen from anemophilous plants are usually lower compared to those in bees fed with candy containing 10% pollen from rapeseed, Phacelia, buckwheat, or goldenrod. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interactions among monofloral pollen diets, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the overall physiology of honey bees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Response in Insects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1053 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Key Role of Amino Acids in Pollen Quality and Honey Bee Physiology—A Review

by Maciej Sylwester Bryś and Aneta Strachecka

Molecules 2024, 29(11), 2605; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29112605 - 1 Jun 2024

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4138

Abstract

When studying honey bee nutrition, it is important to pay attention not only to the quantity but also to the quality of pollen for floral visitors. The recommended way to determine the value of pollen is to determine both the protein concentration and the amino acid composition in the insect’s hemolymph. In addition, the composition of pollen also includes lipids, sterols and biogenic elements such as carbon, nitrogen, etc. Very high protein concentration is observed in aloe pollen, averaging 51%. Plants with a high protein content, at the level of 27% in Europe, are rapeseed and phacelia. In turn, a plant that is poor in protein (at the level of 11%) is buckwheat. The aforementioned plants are sown over very large areas. Vast acreages in Central and Eastern Europe are occupied by pollen- and nectar-providing invasive plants, such as goldenrod. Therefore, bees are forced to use one food source—a mono diet—which results in their malnutrition. In the absence of natural pollen, beekeepers use other foods for bees; including soy protein, powdered milk, egg yolks, fish meal, etc. However, the colony is the strongest when bees are fed with pollen, as opposed to artificial protein diets. More research is needed on the relationship between bee pollen composition and nutrition, as measured by protein concentration and amino acid composition in apian hemolymph, colony strength, honey yield and good overwintering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Natural Products Chemistry)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 2134 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mitigation of DSS-Induced Colitis Potentially via Th1/Th2 Cytokine and Immunological Function Balance Induced by Phenolic-Enriched Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) Bee Pollen Extract

by Sinan Chen, Yifei Xu, Ni Cheng, Feng Li, Haoan Zhao, Naisheng Bai, Hesham R. El-Seedi and Wei Cao

Foods 2022, 11(9), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11091293 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3009

Abstract

Colitis is an inflammatory disease that results from the overactivation of effector immune cells, producing a high quantity of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our study aimed to explore whether buckwheat (F. esculentum) bee pollen extract (FBPE) could inhibit the progression of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis via regulating immune function. We isolated and identified six main phenolic compounds of FBPE such as luteolin (9.46 mg/g) by column chromatography, HPLC-DAD, ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy, then assessed their effects on colonic mucosal injury by clinical symptoms, histomorphology and immunohistochemistry examinations. The results showed that FBPE at 25.2 g/kg body weight (g/kg BW) changed the clinical symptoms of colitis, the ICAM-1 expression in colon, the activity of related inflammatory mediators in colon tissue and helped restore the immune system. Compared with the model group (40.28%), the CD4 positivity was significantly reduced in the HD (High-dose group: 25.2 g FBPE/kg BW/day) group (20.45%). Administration of 25.2 g/kg BW of FBPE decreased the IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-4 levels, while enhancing the IL-10 level, and significantly inhibited the abnormally decreased IgG (Model: 13.25 mg/mL, HD: 14.06 mg/mL), showing a reversal effect on the Th1/Th2 levels in colitis. These findings suggested that FBPE at 25.2 g/kg BW had the effects of alleviating colitis and immunomodulation, which can help in the development of safe and effective immune therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 2652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Beebread Caviar from Buckwheat Honey through Immobilization with Sodium Alginate

by Małgorzata Smuga-Kogut, Agnieszka Pabiszczak, Maria Dymkowska-Malesa, Daria Szymanowska, Joanna Kobus-Cisowska and Judyta Cielecka-Piontek

Molecules 2020, 25(19), 4483; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25194483 - 29 Sep 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3576

Abstract

Honeys have a pleasant taste and a wide range of use. They are characterized by a relatively high consumption compared to bee pollen or beebread. Honeys are the most popular bee products. Considering health reasons, beebread exhibits the strongest properties as it has the highest nutritional value as well as strong detoxifying, antioxidant, and antiradical properties. Despite having such valuable properties, consumption of beebread is negligible; sometimes, it is limited only to supplementation in case of diseases. This paper proposes a new food product, that is, beebread caviar made from buckwheat honey. The expiry date and sensory and physicochemical quality of beebread caviar have been determined in this study. Beebread caviar, obtained by immobilization on alginate carrier, contained 0.34 mg GAE/mL extract. It remained stable until five days after preparation. Its total acidity was 33.7 mval/kg. Its extract content was 22.53%. Caviar had a high overall sensory score of 4.8 points on a 5-point scale. Beebread caviar can be successfully classified as probiotic food because beebread contains a large amount of lactic acid. In the form of caviar, a new, attractive, and convenient form of beebread consumption could become one of the products of comfortable and functional food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bee Products: Recent Progress in Health Benefits Studies)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Search Results (5)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI

Saved Queries

Search Filter Reset All

Years

Feature Papers

Subjects

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (5)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI