Bioactivities of the edible pollens in osmani̇ye, Hatay and Adana

A total of 14 pollen samples were collected from the regions of Osmaniye, Adana and Hatay. L values (49,99-67,96), a values (2,34-8,59), b values (32,08-51,4), Chroma (32,23-51,65), Hue (78,19-85,99), dry matter (%) (90,8-93,5), moisture content (%) (6,14-9,19) pH values (3,81-5,82) chlorophyll a (9,68-49,03 mg/kg), chlorophyll b (1,39-25,14 mg/kg) caretonid (91,44-232,69 mg/kg), phenolics (398,43-529,61 mg/kg) and flavonoid contents (341,56 717,69 mg/kg) were determined. Antioxidant assays of the ethanol extracts of pollens, at 5 mg/ml, DPPH (% inhibition) (80,43-94,78), reducing power capacity (1,73-2,47), % NO scavenging activity (38,92-93,46), H2O2 scavenging activity (42,99-100) showed different antioxidant powers. Total aerobic bacterial counts ranged from 2,87 to 6,35 log cfu/g in all samples, yeast and fungi ranged from 2,35 to 4,28 in ten samples, Enterococcus faecalis ranged from 2,6 to 2,86 in 4 samples, B. cereus ranged from 2,07 to 3,27 in seven samples, Staphylococcus aureus ranged from 2,4 to 2,75 in two samples. Some samples were unsuitable to according to European Union Criteria as five samples and one sample had total bacterial counts and yeast/fungi counts above 105 and 104 log cfu/g, respectively, and two pollen samples had S. aureus.