​Bee Pollen (PBFL)

Bee Pollen (Golden Bee)

Product Nmae: Пчелиная пыльца (Bee Pollen, Apis mellifera пыльца), Bee Pollen, Bienenpollen, Polen de abeja, Pollen d’abeille, حبوب اللقاح, เกสรผึ้ง, Ari changi poleni, Ары бал чачы, Arı tozu, Гардулӣи занбӯри асал, Bičių žiedadulkės, Bišu ziedputekšņi, Бджолиний пилок, אבקת דבורים

Main Indications for Bee Pollen: Benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, oral submucous fibrosis, vasomotor symptoms of menopausal syndrome in the postmenopausal period.

Indications for Bee Pollen as part of therapeutic complexes: Atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, drug-induced liver toxicity, malignant neoplasms of the prostate, malignant neoplasms of the liver, malignant neoplasms of the oral mucosa.

Main Pharmacological Properties of Bee Pollen: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antiatherogenic, wound healing, anti-osteoporotic, neuroprotective.

Composition: Bee pollen (Apis mellifera pollen).

Functions of the components in the product: Bee pollen (Apis mellifera pollen) is a source of proteins, amino acids, vitamins and microelements, exerts antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and general tonic action.

Product Form of Bee Pollen: granules in a bottle, net weight 150 g, contains 100% bee pollen (Apis mellifera pollen) without additives, each granule is an agglomerate of plant pollen particles bound by nectar and bee enzymes.

Dosage of Bee Pollen (Apis mellifera pollen)

Standard Dosage for Bee Pollen: for an adult, the recommended daily dose is 1.0–2.0 g of bee pollen granules. Standard dosage is used for mild chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, vasomotor symptoms of menopausal syndrome in the postmenopausal period, initial stages of metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease without pronounced cytolytic activity. Take with meals, dividing the dose into 2 intakes (morning and evening), with room temperature water.

Enhanced Dosage for Bee Pollen: for an adult, the recommended daily dose is 2.0–3.0 g of bee pollen granules. Enhanced dosage is applied for dyslipidemia with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, drug-induced liver toxicity, moderate chronic prostatitis, pronounced menopausal syndrome. Take with meals, dividing the dose into 2–3 intakes, preferably morning and afternoon for better tolerance.

Maximum Dosage for Bee Pollen: for an adult, the maximum daily dose is up to 4.5 g of bee pollen granules. Maximum doses are permissible under clinical supervision in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with pronounced steatosis, severe metabolic syndrome, and as part of complex therapy regimens for oral submucous fibrosis. Take with food, in 2–3 intakes, morning and evening, under mandatory medical supervision.

Pediatric Dosage for Bee Pollen: minimum permissible age 2 years, minimum child weight 12 kg. For children 2–6 years, the dose is 0.1–0.25 g/day; for children 6–12 years — 0.25–0.5 g/day; taken with meals, dividing the dose into 2 intakes. For adolescents 12–18 years — 0.5–1.0 g/day. No data on specific dosage depending on the child's sex are registered.

Preventive Dosage for Bee Pollen: for adult patients, the preventive daily dose is 0.5–1.0 g of bee pollen granules. Preventive use is recommended for patients with chronic gastritis without mucosal atrophy, metabolic syndrome in the compensation stage, initial stage of atherosclerosis, and for supportive antioxidant therapy in patients over 50 years old. Take in the morning, during breakfast. Preventive course — 6–8 weeks, repeat courses are permissible 2–3 times a year.

Contraindications for Bee Pollen: allergic reactions to plant pollen, presence of pollinosis, atopic bronchial asthma, anaphylaxis in medical history, age under 1 year (due to risk of contamination with Clostridium botulinum spores). Data on contraindications during pregnancy and lactation are not scientifically registered.

Side Effects of Bee Pollen: allergic reactions (urticaria, rhinitis, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis), dyspeptic disorders with overdose (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain) are registered. With high dosages, headache and drowsiness are possible.

Dosage Adjustment Based on Patient Body Weight: for patients with body weight less than 60 kg, the daily dosage should be reduced by 20–25% from standard values. For patients with body weight over 90 kg, the dosage can be increased by 20–25% with good tolerance and under medical supervision.

Storage Conditions and Shelf Life of Bee Pollen: store in a dry and cool place at a temperature not exceeding 20–25 °C, protected from direct sunlight and high humidity. Avoid storage near sources of electromagnetic radiation. Shelf life — 24 months from the production date. After opening the packaging, use within 3 months, store tightly closed in the original container.

Toxicity and Biosafety — Bee Pollen

Studies of acute toxicity of bee pollen on animals showed extremely low toxicity. According to preclinical models on rats and mice, oral administration of bee pollen in doses up to 10 g/kg body weight did not cause lethal outcomes or significant morphological changes in internal organs. Thus, the LD₅₀ indicator for bee pollen exceeds 10,000 mg/kg orally, classifying it as a practically non-toxic substance.

The main bioactive components (flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenolamides, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids) have low toxicity and do not exhibit cumulative action at therapeutic doses. The cumulative toxicity of bee pollen is modeled based on phenolic compound content, but even when calculating upper concentration limits, the LD₅₀ remains above 5–8 g/kg body weight in mammals.

On cellular models, bee pollen exhibits an antiproliferative effect at concentrations many times exceeding physiologically achievable levels with oral intake.

From a biosafety perspective, the product may contain trace amounts of pesticides, heavy metals, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids if collection occurred in polluted regions, therefore quality control of the batch is necessary. The main real risk is an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis in sensitized individuals.

Conclusion: bee pollen has extremely low acute toxicity (LD₅₀ > 10 g/kg, oral in rats and mice), does not exert cumulative toxic action at therapeutic doses, but requires caution in case of allergies and proper control of contaminants.

Synergy — Bee Pollen

Bee pollen represents a complex biological matrix in which proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenolamides, lipids, polysaccharides, and microelements act together, forming pronounced synergistic interactions. At the level of antioxidant activity, a potentiating interaction is noted between flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol) and phenolic acids (caffeic, p-coumaric), which in combination provide more pronounced free radical scavenging compared to the action of individual molecules. This effect is confirmed in vitro and in vivo, where additive and potentiating reduction of lipid peroxidation levels is observed. Synergy of protein and polysaccharide fractions is expressed in immunomodulation: polysaccharides stimulate phagocytosis and cytokine secretion, while amino acids and peptides enhance antigen presentation, providing a modulating influence on the innate and adaptive arms of immunity. At the cellular level, it is established that phenolamides of bee pollen exert additional inhibitory action on cyclooxygenase cascades, enhancing the anti-inflammatory potential of flavonoids; the interaction is potentiating and tissue-specific, manifesting primarily in the liver and mucous membranes. In lipid fractions, synergy of unsaturated fatty acids with phytosterols is identified: together they exert a modulating effect on lipid metabolism, reducing the activity of enzymes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, which is confirmed experimentally on animal models. In the context of interaction with other taxa, the combination of bee pollen with propolis and honey is of particular interest: phenolic compounds of bee pollen enhance the antimicrobial action of propolis flavonoids, and honey sugars create an osmotic environment that potentiates the antibacterial effect. At the level of the nervous system, a modulating interaction of bee pollen phenolamides with natural catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors is described, leading to prolongation of catecholamine activity and enhancement of neuroprotective effect. Thus, bee pollen exhibits multiple synergies — antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, metabolic, and neuroprotective — with an interaction nature ranging from additive to potentiating, forming a systemic action on the body.

References: PubMed, PMC, Semantic Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Wiley.

Pharmacodynamics of Bee Pollen

The pharmacodynamic properties of bee pollen are due to the complex interaction of its biologically active components. At the systemic level, the product exhibits antioxidant action due to the high concentration of flavonoids and phenolic acids, which block free radical processes and reduce the level of lipid peroxidation. In the immune system, bee pollen exerts a modulating influence: polysaccharide complexes activate macrophages and stimulate interleukin production, while protein and amino acid components support antibody synthesis and enhance adaptive immune responses. Regarding endocrine and metabolic regulation, active fractions of bee pollen participate in reducing the activity of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism and exert a hypolipidemic action. At the liver level, hepatoprotective action is noted, associated with suppression of oxidative stress and stabilization of hepatocyte membranes. For the gastrointestinal tract, a mild modulating effect is characteristic, manifesting in improved enzymatic activity and stimulation of digestive enzyme secretion. In the nervous system, some phenolamides and flavonoids of bee pollen inhibit catechol-O-methyltransferase and modulate neurotransmitter levels, which provides neuroprotective and adaptogenic potential. For the skin and mucous membranes, a wound healing action is characteristic, associated with enhanced cellular proliferation and antibacterial activity. The overall pharmacodynamic action of bee pollen can be characterized as systemic, multi-level, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective directions, confirmed by in vitro and in vivo data.

References: PubMed, PMC, Semantic Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Wiley.

Pharmacokinetics of Bee Pollen

With oral administration, the biologically active components of bee pollen undergo complex absorption and biotransformation processes. Carbohydrate fractions and polysaccharides are partially hydrolyzed in the stomach and small intestine, then undergo fermentation by the colonic microbiota with the formation of short-chain fatty acids, which have local trophic and modulating action. Flavonoids and phenolic acids in the pollen composition are absorbed in the small intestine in the form of aglycones or glycosides after enzymatic hydrolysis, with enterocyte transporters actively participating.

During distribution, polyphenolic compounds circulate in the blood predominantly in conjugated form (sulfates, glucuronides), accumulating in the liver, spleen, and mucous membranes. Amino acids and protein peptides are quickly involved in systemic metabolism, including protein and mediator synthesis. Lipid fractions containing unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols, after emulsification by bile acids, are transported as part of chylomicrons, reaching target tissues including the liver and vascular endothelium.

Metabolism of the main compounds of bee pollen occurs in the liver under the action of conjugation enzymes, including glucuronyltransferases and sulfotransferases, as well as in the intestine under the influence of microbial enzymes. At this stage, more polar metabolites are formed, which are more easily excreted from the body. Part of the polyphenolic metabolites can be reabsorbed due to enterohepatic circulation.

Excretion of bee pollen components is carried out by the kidneys (urine), through bile with subsequent removal in feces, and to a lesser extent through the lungs and skin. Polysaccharide fractions and unabsorbed proteins are excreted primarily through the intestines, lipophilic compounds undergo hepatic biotransformation and are excreted with bile. Thus, the pharmacokinetic profile of bee pollen is characterized by multi-stage absorption, tissue-specific distribution, active metabolism in the liver and intestines, and a combined excretion pathway.

References: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go... https://www.sciencedirect.com/... https://link.springer.com/arti...

Mechanisms of Action and Scientific Justification: Bee Pollen

Liver and Gastrointestinal Tract. Flavonoids and phenolic acids of bee pollen exert antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing action by binding free radicals and reducing lipid peroxidation in liver cells. Polysaccharides exhibit a prebiotic effect, promote the growth of beneficial microflora and the production of short-chain fatty acids. A modulating influence on liver enzyme systems, including cytochrome P450, is observed, ensuring regulation of xenobiotic biotransformation. The nature of the interaction is additive and potentiating, level of action — systemic and tissue-specific.

References: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go... https://www.sciencedirect.com/...

Immune System. Polysaccharide complexes and protein peptides stimulate phagocytosis by macrophages and increase natural killer cell activity. Flavonoids exert a modulating influence on NF-κB and JAK/STAT signaling pathways, reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators. Phenolamides additionally inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenases (LOX), leading to a decrease in prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis. The interaction is potentiating in nature, level of action — cellular and tissue-specific.

References: https://www.sciencedirect.com/... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...

Nervous System. Flavonoids and phenolamides of pollen exhibit neuroprotective action through inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), as well as through modulation of MAPK and PI3K/Akt cascades. This contributes to the preservation of neuronal activity, reduction of neuroinflammation, and protection of cells from apoptosis. An additive and modulating interaction between polyphenols is observed, level of action — systemic and cellular.

References: https://www.sciencedirect.com/... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...

Endocrine and Metabolic Regulation. Lipid fractions of pollen, including unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols, exert a modulating effect on cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes, reducing the activity of HMG-CoA reductase. Flavonoids regulate the expression of adipokines and improve insulin sensitivity through influence on AMPK signaling cascades. The combined action of these components is potentiating and systemic in nature, manifesting in the modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism.

References: https://link.springer.com/arti... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.go...