• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 2017

We evaluated the nutritional composition including proximate, amino acid, vitamin, minerals, and the antioxidant activity of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) pollen grains collected by Apis mellifera bees, to be used as a species of forage plant with Quercus acutissima (acorn) and Actinidia arguta pollen grains. The content of crude protein and fat were found 14.43% and 5.67%, respectively. Eighteen amino acids from buckwheat pollen were found, including 8 essential amino acids. The predominant amino acids were glutamic acid, aspartic acid and lysine, accounting for about 42.7% of total free amino acids. The concentration of vitamin C was the highest value of 13.7 mg/100g, followed by $B_3$ (niacin) and $B_1$ among the detected vitamins. The predominant minerals were potassium (1197.95mg/100g), followed by phosphorus (962.77mg/100g) and magnesium (535.42mg/100g), whereas copper, zinc and manganese were detected as minor elements. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content accounted for 8.1% at $500{\mu}g/ml$ extract and $2.25{\mu}g/mg$, respectively.