Search Results (20)

The genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) is characterized by complex taxonomy and controversial phylogeny. This genus includes about a thousand species with worldwide distribution and high ecological, structural, functional and morphological diversity. Because of their high content of essential oils, various Salvia plants are widely used in medicine, as well as in the food, perfume, cosmetic, and paint industries; they also are valuable melliferous resources. The present study reviews the taxonomic history of the genus Salvia and the phylogenetic relationships between the taxa within the subgenera Salvia, Sclarea, and Glutinaria. Among the Salvia species, three basic chromosome numbers, x = 7, x = 8, and x = 11, were most common, although other basic chromosome numbers (x = 6–19) were determined, which was probably due to events of dysploidy, aneupoidy, and/or polyploidy occurring during speciation. Recent molecular cytogenetic studies based on Next Generation Sequencing technologies have clarified the chromosomal organization of several Salvia species. The patterns of chromosome distribution of 45S rDNA, 5S rDNA, and satellite DNAs made it possible to assess their intra- and interspecific chromosome diversity. However, further cytogenetic studies are needed to characterize the chromosomes in the genomes of other Salvia species and specify the genomic relationships among them. Full article

The suitability of different agroecosystems (native forest, soybean, artificial forest with Eucalyptus sp., mixed horticulture and fruticulture, and dairy prairies) for settling and managing hives for honey production were appraised via holistic surveys of the spatial and seasonal occurrence of floral resources. Metadata were obtained from a project developed by our group, which took place between 2014 and 2017. Species richness, abundance, growth habit (tree, shrub, stand, scrub or stem, accompanying species), and the flowering period for each melliferous plant across the different seasons in 120 samples were measured. Using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index and the floral characteristics of the different species in each environment, an Agroecosystem Apibotanical Index was developed. It revealed that the best agroecosystems for honey production were the most biodiverse native forest as well as mixed horticulture and fruit culture. Knowledge of the floral characteristics and species arrangement enabled the categorization of agroecosystems, aiming for rational management to enhance honey production. Full article

The chemical composition of honey, and therefore its quality and properties, is influenced by many factors, including its botanical origin and the harvesting conditions—the location of the apiary, access to melliferous plants, the proximity of industrial infrastructure and communication routes, etc. This quality may be reduced by undesirable, toxic compounds that penetrate honey from a contaminated environment, such as heavy metals and residues from other environmental pollutants. Therefore, the aim of our research was to assess the quality of honeys from urbanized areas—in particular, to assess contamination with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (PAHs). In total, 35 samples from six different apiaries located in urbanized areas were examined. The content of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn) was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and the content of total PAHs as the sum of the concentrations of the compounds benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(a)pyrene was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The average zinc content ranged from about 2 to 4.5 mg/kg, the average lead content ranged from 3.5 µg/kg to 388 µg/kg and the average cadmium content ranged from 0.5 to 14 µg/kg. It was found that all honeys contained certain amounts of harmful metals, and only lead exceeded the permissible limits. None of the samples tested contained sum content of PAHs exceeding 10 µg/kg of honey. Contrary to our expectations, the results obtained indicate that honeys from urbanized areas do not contain these harmful substances. In general, the presence of harmful metals does not, however, reduce honey’s quality or its health value. Full article

Nutrition is a key aspect influencing honey bee health and overwintering. Since honey bee seasonality in southern temperate climates represents a significant research gap, this study conducted long-term monitoring of honey bees in the Mediterranean (Sassari, Italy). Specifically, individual weight, fat body, and size measurements (head, thorax, abdomen, and total body) were recorded monthly so to detect changes in the nutrient storage of worker bees during an annual cycle. Data were analysed according to sampling date, climate (temperature, precipitation, and daylength), and flower diversity and were conducted for nurse and forager bees separately. The nutritional honey bee year-cycle generally followed the nectar flow and showed two critical timepoints: summer and winter dearth. A short cessation of activities in late fall/early winter coupled with an increase in nutrient storage indicated the presence of winter bees. Precipitation was found to play an important role in honey bee nutrition in the study area through its impacts on colony demography and plants in particular illustrating how climate change could pose a threat to European honey bee populations in the future. These results provide valuable insights into the nutritional dynamics of Apis mellifera ligustica in the Mediterranean that could support management decisions to improve overwintering success and prevent unnecessary colony losses. Full article

Yucatan, Mexico, is renowned for its rich plant diversity, with ~40% melliferous plants. Yucatan bee honey (BH) constitutes ~15.83% of Mexico’s annual BH production, giving high international value. Major melliferous families in Yucatan include Fabaceae, with Piscidia piscipula (“Jabin”) as an example, and Polygonaceae, with Gymnopodium floribundum (“Dzidzilche”), crucial for BH production. This study aimed to profile the metabolome of Jabin and Dzidzilche flowers and their associated BH to identify metabolites for each flower coming from two regions (Tahdziu and Acanceh) of Yucatán. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS²), total polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (AC) were implemented. As many as 101 metabolites (69 in flowers, 55 in BH) were tentatively identified using spectral libraries and in silico predictions, predominantly flavonoids, which accounted for 50.7% of the total identified metabolites in flower and 16.4% in BH. Samples exhibited variations in TPC, AC, secondary metabolites, and chemical classes depending on geography and botanical origin. Dzidzilche flowers from Acanceh displayed the highest total polyphenol content (TPC, 1431.24 ± 15.38 mg GAE/100 g dry matter) and antioxidant capacity (AC, 93.63% inhibition). Among the metabolites detected in flowers (Piscidia piscipula, Gymnopodium floribundum), 50.7% were found to be part of the flavonoid chemical class, whereas in their respective honey samples, only 16.4% of the identified metabolites were categorized as flavonoids. Vanillin and vitexin were tentatively identified as potential markers for the botanical origin identification of honey from Piscidia piscipula and Gymnopodium floribundum, respectively. Recognizing botanical and geographic BH origin is important for product authentication, identification, and traceability. This study offers chemical insights that can be valuable and complementary to melissopalynology, aiding in determining the origin and quality of Yucatan BH. Full article

Common buckwheat is a valuable plant producing seeds containing a number of health-promoting compounds and elements. Buckwheat does not contain gluten and is characterized by an excellent composition of amino acids. This species is also a melliferous plant. Despite many advantages, the area of buckwheat cultivation is decreasing due to unstable yields. One of the reasons for low seed yield is its sensitivity to drought, high temperatures, and assimilate deficiencies. These factors have a significant impact on the nectar composition, which is important for visiting pollinators and thus for pollination. High temperature during flowering increases the degeneration of embryo sacs and embryos, which is high anyway (genetic determination) in common buckwheat. This phenomenon seems to be unbreakable by breeding methods. The authors aimed to determine whether stimulants commonly used in agriculture could increase the seed yield of this plant species. The aim of the work was to choose from eight different stimulants the most effective one that would improve the seed yield of two accessions of common buckwheat by increasing the efficiency of nectar production and reducing the number of empty seeds. The plants were sprayed at either the beginning of flowering or at full bloom. The content of sugars and amino acids was higher in the nectar produced at the beginning of flowering. The nectar of both lines included also polyamines. The level of sugars in the nectar increased mainly after spraying with the stimulants in the second phase of flowering. A positive correlation between the total amount of sugars and amino acids in the nectar and seed yield was found. All the stimulants used reduced the number of empty seeds in both accessions. Seed production in the PA15 line increased significantly under the influence of all stimulants used at the beginning of flowering, and the most effective were ASAHI SL and TYTANIT^®. Full article

Knowledge of melliferous flora has applications in areas of commercial and scientific interest because pollinators, such as different bee taxa, provide ecosystem services that include the pollination of both agroecosystems and wild ecosystems. In this manuscript, we reviewed research carried out in Mexico on the identification of melliferous flora, emphasizing the methods used and highlighting their implications for bee–plant–human interactions as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods used in the determination of this type of vegetation. Methods such as observations of the foraging process, palynological analysis, and taxonomic determination via genetic sequencing were analyzed. We observed advantages in each method, but better integration between methods would facilitate concrete advances in understanding this type of flora. Ultimately, the determination of melliferous flora is a practical tool that provides useful knowledge in diverse economic and scientific sectors. Full article

This study presents the impact on human health by consuming medicinal herbs with high melliferous potential (HMPs) from botanical areas with different pollution levels. First, the bioaccumulation of the plants’ parts has been determined. The study assessed the potential health risks associated with the ingestion of various mineral species (macroelements—K, Ca, Mg, Na; microelements—Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and one trace element Cd) from three types of HMPs (Sambucus nigra (SnL), Hypericum perforatum (Hp), and Tilia tomentosa (Tt)). The average concentrations of these elements were not similar even in the same type of HMPs. Nevertheless, all samples contained detectable levels of the studied elements. The average concentrations of the studied elements were very low (significantly lower than the legal limit set by the WHO). The study’s findings indicated that the potential health risks associated with ingesting the elements in HMPs were within acceptable limits for children and adults. The hazard quotient (HQ) for Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Cd and the hazard index (HI) for the minerals from HMPs were significantly lower than the acceptable limit (HQ and HI = 1). Similarly, the carcinogenic risk for chemical substances (${\mathrm{Risk}}_{\mathrm{ccs}}$) were lower than or close to the acceptable limit (1 × 10⁻⁴). Full article

The essential oils (EOs) of Telekia speciosa, a perennial plant native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, were analyzed for their composition and biological properties. T. speciosa is an invasive plant in Poland; however, its beauty prompts gardeners to cultivate the plants. T. speciosa serves as a valuable source of nectar and pollen for honey bees. Our results revealed more than 150 compounds in the flower, leaf, and root EOs. Major constituents found in the essential oils from the roots included isoalantolacton (46.2%) and from the flowers nerol (11.9%), while from the leaves, they included (E)-nerolidol (10.1%). T. speciosa flower EO showed significant cytotoxicity against A375 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 7.2, 5.1, and 3.4 μg/mL referring to 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, indicating its potential as a natural cytotoxic agent. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 was also investigated. The essential oils from the flowers and leaves of T. speciosa demonstrated higher inhibitory activity against S. aureus (MIC: 5.9–7.8 μL/mL) and E. coli (MIC: 7.8–11.7 μL/mL) than the essential oil isolated from the roots of the plant (MICs 31.3 and 62.5 μL/mL against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively). Full article

Globally, climate change and wildfires are disrupting natural ecosystems, thus setting several endemic species at risk. The genus Lavandula is widely present in the Mediterranean region and its species, namely, those included in the section Stoechas, are valuable resources of active compounds with several biological assets. Since ancient times lavenders have been used in traditional medicine and for domestic purposes. These species are melliferous, decorative, and essential oil-producing plants with a high economic interest in the pharmaceutical, flavor, fragrance, and food industries. The essential oils of Lavandula section Stoechas are characterized by high amounts of 1,8-cineole, camphor, fenchone, and specifically for L. stoechas subsp. luisieri one of the major compounds is trans-α-necrodyl acetate. On the other hand, the diversity of non-volatile components like phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, make these species an important source of phytochemicals with pharmacological interest. Rosmarinic, caffeic, and salvianolic B acids are the major phenolic acids, and luteolin and eriodictyol-O-glucuronide are the main reported flavonoids. However, the concentration of these secondary metabolites is strongly affected by the plant’s phenological phase and varies in Lavandula sp. from different areas of origin. Indeed, lavender extracts have shown promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties as well as several other beneficial actions with potential for commercial applications. Despite several studies on the bioactive potential of lavenders from the section Stoechas, a systematized and updated review of their chemical profile is lacking. Therefore, we carried out the present review that gathers relevant information on the different types of secondary metabolites found in these species as well as their bioactive potential. Full article

Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. is a melliferous, phytosanitary fodder plant. An important factor in understanding the biology of this plant is to investigate its allelopathic potential. In the experiment conducted here, ×Triticosecale Wittm. cv. Mamut was treated with water extracts from the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of phacelia at concentrations of 10%, 12.5%, 15%, and control with 0% of extract. After 7 days of exposure, the germination of grains was assessed by analysing, seedling growth, mass parameters, water content, and electrolytes leakage. Aqueous extracts from the stalks, leaves, and flowers of phacelia significantly inhibited kernel germination at a 10% concentration, and from roots at a 12.5% concentration. The elongation growth of triticale seedlings was significantly inhibited by each of the extracts. Extracts from the leaves and flowers caused a significant reduction in fresh mass at a 10% concentration and extracts from the stalks at a 12.5% concentration. A significant reduction in water content was also found in seedlings watered with extracts of 10% from roots, stalks, and leaves and 12.5% from flowers. Extracts from phacelia roots at a 12.5% concentration and extracts from stalks, leaves, and flowers at a 10% concentration significantly increased the leakage of electrolytes. In general, phacelia exhibits allelopathic potential at higher concentrations of extracts. Full article

The accumulation of heavy metals in plant pollen and nectar exposes pollinators to environmental contaminations. Although honeybees act as biofilters and impede the transfer of heavy metals to honey, possible antagonistic interactions could negatively affect the mineral composition of bee-processed nectar. The aim of this study was to assess the level of harmful metals (Cd, Pd, Hg, Al, Ni and Tl) in relation to essential macro- (K, Ca and Mg) and microelements (Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu and Se) in three melliferous plant species (n = 45)—rapeseed, dandelion, and goldenrod—using the ICP-OES method. Metal transferability to three types of monofloral honey (n = 45) produced from these plants was evaluated. Among the studied plants, goldenrod and dandelion were found to be Cd and Pb accumulators; however, regardless of the plant species, only traces of harmful metals were found in honey (<0.015 and <0.043 mg/kg, respectively). What is more, the adverse impact of accumulated toxic metals (Tl, Cd, Ni, Pb and Al) on Ca, Mg and K levels in plants was noted, though it was not reflected in honey. Our findings suggest that in moderately contaminated environments, toxic metals are not transferred to honey and do not disturb its beneficial mineral composition. Full article

Honey’s antibacterial activity has been recently linked to the inhibitory effects of honey microbiota against a range of foodborne and human pathogens. In the current study, the microbial community structure of honey samples exerting pronounced antimicrobial activity was examined. The honey samples were obtained from different geographical locations in Greece and had diverse pollen origin (fir, cotton, fir–oak, and Arbutus unedo honeys). Identification of honey microbiota was performed by high-throughput amplicon sequencing analysis, detecting 335 distinct taxa in the analyzed samples. Regarding ecological indices, the fir and cotton honeys possessed greater diversity than the fir–oak and Arbutus unedo ones. Lactobacillus kunkeei (basionym of Apilactobacillus kun-keei) was the predominant taxon in the fir honey examined. Lactobacillus spp. appeared to be favored in honey from fir-originated pollen and nectar since lactobacilli were more pronounced in fir compared to fir–oak honey. Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, Lysobacter and Meiothermus were the predominant taxa in cotton honey, whereas Lonsdalea, the causing agent of acute oak decline, and Zymobacter, an osmotolerant facultative anaerobic fermenter, were the dominant taxa in fir–oak honey. Moreover, methylotrophic bacteria represented 1.3–3% of the total relative abundance, independently of the geographical and pollen origin, indicating that methylotrophy plays an important role in honeybee ecology and functionality. A total of 14 taxa were identified in all examined honey samples, including bacilli/anoxybacilli, paracocci, lysobacters, pseudomonads, and sphingomonads. It is concluded that microbial constituents of the honey samples examined were native gut microbiota of melliferous bees and microbiota of their flowering plants, including both beneficial bacteria, such as potential probiotic strains, and animal and plant pathogens, e.g., Staphylococcus spp. and Lonsdalea spp. Further experimentation will elucidate aspects of potential application of microbial bioindicators in identifying the authenticity of honey and honeybee-derived products. Full article

Dracocephalum moldavica is an aromatic plant with a lemon scent and versatile use. Its flowers produce large amounts of nectar, which is collected by bees and bumblebees. The aim of the study was to investigate the structure of the floral nectary in this melliferous plant, which has not been analysed to date. The analyses were carried out with the use of light, fluorescence, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy, as well as histochemical techniques. The four-lobed nectary with a diameter of 0.9–1.2 mm and a maximum height of 1.2 mm is located at the ovary base; one of its lobes is larger than the others and bears 20–30 nectarostomata and 8–9 glandular trichomes. The histochemical assays revealed the presence of essential oil and phenolic compounds in the nectary tissues and in glandular trichomes. The nectary tissues are supplied by xylem- and phloem-containing vascular bundles. The nectariferous parenchyma cells have numerous mitochondria, plastids, ribosomes, dictyosomes, ER profiles, vesicles, thin cell walls, and plasmodesmata. Starch grains are present only in the tissues of nectaries in floral buds. The study showed high metabolic activity of D. moldavica nectary glands, i.e., production of not only nectar but also essential oil, which may increase the attractiveness of the flowers to pollinators, inhibit the growth of fungal and bacterial pathogens, and limit pest foraging. Full article

The Yucatan Peninsula, located in southern Mexico, is a central honey-producing region with extraordinary biodiversity of melliferous plants. Approximately 900 plant species have been described as being a source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. They provide ecosystem services that help to keep plant biodiversity high and mitigate the effects of climate change. This study aimed to reveal the diversity of the pollen content in honey through a melissopalynological analysis of 22 honey samples collected in February–August 2021 from the north-central area of Campeche, Mexico. The extraction of pollen from the honey was carried out using standard methods for melissopalynological analysis. The honeys were classified by botanical origin to determine their floral sources and a diverse spectrum of 19 pollen types from 13 families was identified. Only eight were predominant: Milleria quinqueflora, Gymnopodium floribundum, Terminalia buceras, Amaranthus spinosus, Zea mays, Talisia floresii, Guazuma ulmifolia, and Croton icche. Our research shows the high quality of the honey analyzed and highlights the diversity and critical role of local melliferous flora and crops in beekeeping development in southern Mexico. The results in this study are useful for confirming the botanical origins of honey, generating information for designing nature conservation and agroecosystem management strategies, and increasing the knowledge of beekeepers in Campeche, Mexico. Full article