Pine pollen is one of the traditional raw materials of medical and food in China. It has been widely used in health food and common food at home and abroad for a long time. In recent years, experimental studies have found that pine pollen has biological activities such as enhancing immunity, protecting stomach, protecting liver, antioxidant, protecting prostate, alleviating body fatigue, inhibiting obesity and reducing blood lipid. China is rich in pine pollen resources and has a long history of both medicinal and edible use of pine pollen. As a kind of biological resource with economic value, this article briefly describes the structure and morphology of pine pollen, its nutrient components and cell wall cracking processing. At the same time, it describes the health treatment function of pine pollen in detail, and summarizes the development and utilization of pine pollen resources as a reference.
Pine pollen, also known as pine yellow, is the dried pollen of Pinaceae, Pinus tabulaeformis or several species of the same genus in China[1]. Pine pollen can be used as both medicine and food at least 2400 years ago. It has been included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia[2] as “Sweet and warm; liver and spleen meridians entered; it has the functions of moistening the heart and lung, benefiting qi, astringency and hemostasis, drying the dampness, and astringency of sores.”. Pine pollen has been listed as common food management and can be used in the development of common and health food in China. In recent years, the efficacy of pine pollen in enhancing immunity, protecting intestine and stomach, protecting liver, antioxidant and protecting prostate has become a hot topic in academic research. Health-care products using pine pollen as raw materials, such as Pukangyuan Capsule, Tangqingtian Brand Supplementary Hypoglycemic Soft Capsule, Guozhen Brand Pine Pollen Fish Collagen Protein and Zinc Gluconate Tablet, obtain the national batch number of health care for marketing in China. Pine pollen contains a variety of chemical components, rich in protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, lipids, polypeptides, flavonoids, carotene, auxin, polysaccharides and other bioactive substances, including eight essential amino acids, 14 vitamins and 24 trace elements.
Structure and Morphology of Pine Pollen Powder
The pollens of Pinaceae are of air sac type. Under the microscope, the pine pollen granules consist of the main part and two airbags. The pollen granules are oval or spherical in outline and have round or polygonal texture or small granular protuberances on the surface. Each side has an enlarged semicircular or near-circular airbag wall with distinct reticular texture, and the mesh is polygonal or quasi-circular.
Nutrition Facts and Cell Wall Cracking Process of Pine Pollen Powder
The nutrient active substances in pine pollen are abundant and have high value for development and utilization. Pine pollen treated by cell call cracking process may improve its biological efficacy, but its safety needs to be further studied. Safety testing items include acute toxicity test, micronucleus test of bone marrow cells and chromosome aberration test of testis of mice, teratogenicity test of mice, long-term toxicity test. Safety testing shows that cell cracked pine pollen is safe as a health food. In 1997, the Pine Pollen Project Group of Yunnan Academy of Forestry in China entrusted Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to carry out safety testing of broken-wall pine pollen in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health. The results showed that pine pollen had edible safety. Click below links for more:
Pine Pollen Powder and its Nutrition Fact
Why Pine Pollen Cell Wall Need to be Cracked?
Comparison of Cell Cracked and Uncracked Pine Pollen Powder
Health Treatment Function of Pine Pollen Powder
Enhancing Immune Function and Delaying Senility
Pine pollen contains a large number of antioxidant components, such as vitamin E carotene and trace element selenium, which can enhance cellular immunity and phagocytosis ability, inhibit lipid and protein peroxidation reaction speed in vivo and thus delay aging. The results of feeding pine pollen to mice showed that pine pollen could enhance cellular immunity and phagocytosis.
Pine pollen is rich in a variety of nutrients and has better immune enhancement function. Li Shouhan[3] and other studies have shown that the pollen of Pinus massoniana can improve the immune function of exercise rats, significantly increase the contents of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and other immunoglobulins, and enhance the level of T lymphocyte subsets in plasma of overexercising rats, thus improving the inhibition of T lymphocyte immune function. Zhang Jungang et al.[4] reported that Pinus tabulaeformis pollen can enhance the non-specific immune function of mice, and enhance the ability of mononuclear-peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis and carbon clearance in mice.
Gastrointestinal Protection Function
Yang Changjun et al.[5] showed that pine pollen could improve the pathological changes of gastric mucosa caused by acute alcoholic injury in mice. The gross lesions of high dose group were alleviated, and the damage integral index was significantly reduced. In addition, high dose pine pollen could significantly increase the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO) in gastric homogenate induced by ethanol. ) The content of MDA in gastric mucosa was inhibited by ethanol. Li Li et al.[6] showed that Pinus massoniana pollen could effectively improve the symptoms of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer, indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer and acetic acid-induced burning gastric ulcer, and reduce the gastric ulcer index at medium and high doses. Peng Liang et al.[7] showed that the gastrointestinal peristalsis function and the symptoms of constipation in constipation model mice could be significantly improved by intragastric administration of pine pollen for 7 days.
Liver Protection Function
Pine pollen can promote the activity of liver cells, normal bile secretion, prevent the occurrence of liver diseases and promote liver detoxification function. In addition, large doses of pine pollen beforehand have a good preventive effect on liver injury caused by excessive drinking. Taking pine pollen after drinking can also help the recovery of liver function.
Recent studies have shown that pine pollen and its extracts have protective effects on liver injury induced by various toxicants in vivo and in vitro, such as carbon tetrachloride[8], heavy metal arsenic[9]-induced liver injury in mice and rats. Xuan Zihua et al. [10]showed that chromium-enriched pine pollen had a certain therapeutic effect on non-alcoholic fatty liver rats, which could significantly reduce the number of liver lipids, blood lipids and serum liver enzymes levels, and improve the pathological morphology of liver tissue. Lv Jianyun et al. [11] showed that Pinus massoniana pollen extract could significantly reduce liver pathological damage, steatosis and inflammation, decrease serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol). Alcohol (LDL-C) level. Tian Yingjuan et al. [12]showed that total flavonoids of pine pollen could decrease MDA content in liver tissue, increase glutathione (GSH) content and decrease TG content in serum of mice induced by liquor, and inhibit the decrease of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and glycogen in liver tissue of mice. The results showed that total flavonoids of pine pollen could resist alcohol. Liver lipid peroxidation injury caused by sperm poisoning can protect the liver.
Antioxidant
Pine pollen contains a variety of flavonoids, polyphenols and other antioxidant components. Hui Jing and other [13] studies showed that pine pollen flavonoids had high reductive power. The superoxide anion produced by autoxidation of alkaline pyrogallol, hydroxyl radical produced by Fenton reaction and alkoxyl (LO) and alkyl peroxide (LOO) produced by peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) of vitellus low density lipoprotein (LDL) induced by Fe were well known. The inhibitory effect was obvious and showed a dose-effect relationship. Yu Jianwei et al. [14] showed that pine pollen extract could increase the level of reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes in aged mice, and reduce the content of lipid peroxide. Fan Sanhong et al. [15] extracted pollen polyphenols from Pinus tabulaeformis by ultrasonic-assisted ethanol extraction, which scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine radical (DPPH -), hydroxyl radical (. OH), superoxide anion radical (O2 -) and other free radicals, indicating that the pollen polyphenols of Pinus tabulaeformis had significant antioxidant activity. Han Feng et al. [16] showed that pine pollen could improve the activity and inhibit lipid peroxidation in the brain of mice under chronic stress. Compared with model mice, pine pollen could significantly increase the number of autonomous crossings and erection times in open-field experiment. Meanwhile, the content of MDA in brain tissue was significantly lower than that in model mice, and the content of GSH was significantly lower than that in model mice. The activity of SOD and SOD in the model group were significantly higher than those in the model group.
Prostate Protection
Ma Yu et al. [17] Treating model animals with different doses of pine pollen extract can reduce the prostate index, inflammatory cytokines, DHT concentration, PACP, NOS activity and NO production. The results of serum metabonomics showed that Pinus massoniana pollen extract could significantly reduce the pathological symptoms and related biochemical indicators of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and regulate the level of marker metabolites. Peng Xiujuan et al. [18] showed that pine pollen of Qinling Mountains inhibited the prostate hyperplasia induced by testosterone propionate in mice, and proper dosage of pine pollen had a positive effect on the prevention of prostate hyperplasia. Zhu Baoan et al. [19] The total sterols extracted from pine pollen have a good inhibitory effect on prostate hyperplasia. The mechanism is to reduce the level of dihydrotestosterone in rats by inhibiting 5a-reductase, thereby inhibiting prostate hyperplasia. Liu Donglin et al. [20] treated chronic prostatitis with pine pollen combined with terazosin. The combination of the two can significantly improve the symptoms of patients with chronic prostatitis.
Relieving Physical Fatigue
Pine pollen contains comprehensive and balanced nutrition to enhance physical strength, energy and comprehensive recovery of fatigue. Endurance test and hunger and thirst test in mice showed that pine pollen has anti-fatigue effect, can enhance animal physical ability and can enhance animal endurance and hunger and thirst.
Hu Shuibao et al. [21] showed that Makasone pollen mixture could resist exercise fatigue by improving exercise endurance, increasing hepatic glycogen reserve and accelerating lactic acid clearance. Wu Jingjing et al. [22] showed that total flavonoids of Pinus massoniana pollen could prolong swimming time and pole climbing time of mice, reduce serum BUN concentration after exercise, increase hepatic glycogen reserve and enhance lactic acid scavenging ability.
Help to Loose Weight
Zhang Hanyang et al. [23] showed that pine pollen extract could reduce the body weight and total body fat weight of mice, reduce the content of TC and TG in serum, increase the content of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and significantly increase the content of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-I) in liver and adipose tissue. Song Hang et al. [24] showed that ethanol extract of Pinus massoniana pollen could significantly control the weight growth of mice and improve the level of lipid metabolism in vivo. It was considered that ethanol extract of Pinus massoniana pollen played an important role in inhibiting obesity.
Help to Improve Memory
Li Feiyu et al. [25] showed that pine pollen could improve the learning and memory impairment and the changes of brain biochemical indexes in dementia model mice by inhibiting the activities of MAO and AchE, which could improve and protect the memory impairment in dementia model mice. Mao Genxiang et al. [26] showed that pine pollen could significantly improve the learning and memory function of aging model mice, increase antioxidant activity and reduce the level of inflammatory mediators related to aging. Shi Weilin et al. [27] showed that pine pollen could improve the learning and memory impairment induced by lead in mice. Compared with the model group, the learning and memory abilities of mice in the pine pollen group recovered to varying degrees.
Help Reduce Blood Lipid and Blood Sugar
Huang Jing et al. [28] adopted evidence-based medicine method to verify the hypolipidemic effect of Pinus massoniana pollen in Antibang Soft Capsule. The results showed that Antibang Soft Capsule had better hypolipidemic effect. Liu Yuling et al. [29] showed that pine pollen extract had certain preventive effect on experimental hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet in rats. The contents of TC, TG and LDL-C in serum of rats in each group of pine pollen extract were significantly lower than those in the high-fat model group, and the atherosclerosis index in the high-dose group of pine pollen extract was lower than that in the high-fat model group.
Pan Xiaoling et al. [30] showed that pine pollen had a certain hypoglycemic effect on model mice. The high dose group of pine pollen could significantly reduce the 2-hour blood sugar content and the area under the blood sugar curve of diabetic mice induced by alloxan. Xuan Zihua et al. [31] interfered with alloxan-induced hyperglycemia rat model by intragastric administration of chromium-rich pine pollen. The results showed that it could significantly reduce the blood sugar level of model rats. Fang Chaohui et al. [32] 60 patients with type 2 diabetes were treated with chromium-enriched pine pollen capsule as an adjunct to Western medicine. The effective rate was 86.67%, and 73.33% in the control group treated with western medicine alone. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant, indicating that chromium-enriched pine pollen capsule as an adjunct to the treatment of type 2 diabetes has a certain effect.
Anti-aging and Beauty Efficay
Yu Lu et al. [33] By studying the effect of pine pollen on the deletion and mutation of mitochondrial DNA 4977 in senescent cells, we found that pine pollen can protect cell mtDNA from aging by reducing oxidative damage of fibroblasts. Liu Hongyan et al. [34] Made a subacute aging male rat model by continuous intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose. After administration of pine pollen, the parotid gland dysfunction was significantly improved, which indicated that pine pollen could prevent and delay the aging of parotid gland tissue. Niu Siyun [35] et al. reported that pine pollen could prevent the dysfunction of gonadal axis secretion in male aging rats. Different dosage groups could reduce the levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus, and increase the levels of growth factor (IGF-1) and testosterone. Concentration has obvious protective effect on the gonad axis of male rats. Yang Fan et al. [36] Intervention of pine pollen on apoptosis of keratinocytes in aged rats. At present, the apoptotic rate of keratinocytes in the aged group fed with pine pollen was significantly lower than that in the aged group, indicating that pine pollen has a certain anti-aging effect.
Pine pollen not only has unique physiological functions, but also promotes the metabolism of skin cells, delays the aging of skin cells, increases skin elasticity and makes skin white, red and healthy. It is known as “edible cosmetics”. Pine pollen contains not only abundant amino acids that can be absorbed directly by skin cells, but also skin. All the natural vitamins and enzymes required by skin cells provide the basis for comprehensive cosmetology. In particular, the coordination of vitamins C, E and B in pine pollen can activate cells to keep SOD at a high level, which can better eliminate free radicals, block the way to produce chloasma and butterfly spots, and eliminate skin melanin to make skin white and beautiful. At the same time, long-term consumption of pine pollen has a significant effect on the prevention and treatment of skin pruritus in the elderly. In addition, pine pollen has a better effect on reducing and eliminating whelk. In additional to that, pine pollen also has the function of shining hair.
Regulating Gastrointestinal Function to Prevent Constipation
Pine pollen contains nearly 100 kinds of enzymes, which can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, increase appetite, help digestion and have a significant regulatory effect on gastrointestinal function. Moreover, pine pollen contains abundant and complete nutrients, which has a good therapeutic effect on constipation. For example, for constipation caused by dyspepsia and upper gastrointestinal diseases, pine pollen has a good effect on gastrointestinal dysfunction, so this kind of constipation will be improved immediately after taking pine pollen. For constipation caused by nervous tension, magnesium and vitamin B6 in pine pollen have a good sedative effect on random muscle, so constipation can be eliminated naturally.
Other Benefits
Pine pollen is a natural nutrient bank. It starts with the comprehensive solution of the nutritional balance of the human body and greatly improves the autoimmunity of the human body. It has unexpected auxiliary therapeutic effects on many diseases, such as colds, prostatic diseases, anemia, diabetes, hypertensive asthma, rhinitis, etc. It is especially worth mentioning that cell wall uncracked pine pollen is very good for external use in many cases. It has good therapeutic effects on eczema, yellow water sore, skin erosion, traumatic bleeding, diaper dermatitis and so on. Therefore, it is not only a good medicine for all kinds of sores and ulcers, but also a good product for baby’s tender skin.
Market Prospect of Pine Pollen
With the continuous progress in functional research of pine pollen, the number and types of health-care products approved in China have also increased. By checking with the China National Food and Drug Administration, there are more than 70 kinds of health food approved with pine pollen as raw material being found in the record, including 4 kinds of antioxidant products, 43 kinds of products to enhance immunity and 2 kinds of auxiliary blood-lowering products. Fat products, 12 products with auxiliary protective function for chemical liver injury, 2 kinds of laxative products, 9 kinds of products to alleviate physical fatigue, 3 kinds of products to reduce blood sugar and 1 kind of products to improve sleep.
China is the main producing area of pine pollen powder. However the development and utilization of pine pollen is far from enough. The products in the market mostly stay in pine pollen raw materials, and have not been further extracted, processed and utilized. In addition, the basic research of pine pollen is far from enough, too. With the adjustment of the national health food registration regulations and strict control of the pre-declaration research materials for health food, more basic researches on pine pollen are urgently needed in order to promote the development of pine pollen industry in China.
References
[1] Research and development of components and pharmacological effects of pine pollen by Wang Min [J]. Anhui Medicine, 2008, 12 (4): 357-358.
[2] State Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China [M]. Part 1, 2015. Beijing: China Medical Science and Technology Publishing House, 2015: 206.
[3] The effects of pollen of Li Shouhan, Lian Yongshan, Li Jie and Pinus punctatus on immune function and motor ability of exercise rats [J].Journal of Nutrition, 2016, 38(2): 201-202.
[4] Zhang Jungang, Xu Ying, Jiang Dongsheng, et al. Effects of Pinus tabulaeformis pollen on non-specific immune function and NK cell activity in mice [J]. Chinese Journal of Health Inspection, 2010, (1): 30-31.
[5] Yang Changjun, Wang Tong, Qutao, et al. Study on the protective effect of pine pollen on acute alcoholic gastric mucosal injury [J].Food and Drugs, 2017, 19(1):22-25.
[6] Chemical Constituents of Pollen of Lili Masson Pine and Their Protective Effects on Gastric Mucosa [D]. Liaoning: Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010.
[7] Peng Liang, Zhao Peng, Zhang Jiehong, et al. Experimental analysis of the effect of pine pollen on moistening intestine and relieving constipation in mice [J].Yunnan Medicine, 2016, (4): 454-456.
[8] Jin Xueyuan, Congtao, Zhao Lin, et al. Protective effect of pine pollen aqueous extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocyte injury [J].Beijing Medical College, 2014, 36 (12): 1040-1043
[9] Effects of Zhao Quanquan-gong, Luo Yanhong and Pine Pollen on ALT Activity in Liver Tissue of Mice with Arsenic Poisoning [J]. Laboratory Medicine and Clinical, 2012, 20 (9): 2635-2636.
[10] Xuan Zihua, Yu Jinhai, Wang Xuelin, et al. Effects of chromium-rich pine pollen on rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [J]. Chinese herbal medicines, 2014, 37 (8): 1446-1449.
[11] Lu Jianyun, Ma Yu, Sun Fengxia, et al. Preventive effect of Masson pine pollen extract on non-alcoholic fatty liver in mice [J]. Journal of Food Safety Quality Detection, 2016, 7 (8): 3255-3258.
[12] Tian Yingjuan, Zhu Liang, Yin Yichong. Protective effects of total flavonoids from Masson Pine Pollen on acute alcoholic liver injury in mice [J].Food Science and Technology, 2010, (8):255-258.
[13] Hui Jin, Lin Jiashuai, Li Tianyi, et al. Antioxidant activity of flavonoid extracts from pine pollen in vitro [J]. Journal of Liaoning University, 2014, 41 (3): 281-284.
[14] Yu Jianwei, Li Ming, Qiaoqiang, et al. Antioxidant activity and toxicology of pine pollen extracts [J]. Food research and development, 2016, 37 (13): 23-37.
[15] Fan Sanhong, Qin Wanning, Fang Chuchu. Antioxidant activity of polyphenols in pollen of Pinus tabulaeformis [J]. Food Industry Science and Technology, 2016, (14): 161-163.
[16] Han Feng, Lingxin. Effects of pine pollen on spontaneous activity and lipid peroxidation in brain of mice under chronic stress [J].Pharmaceutical and clinical studies, 2013, 21(5): 526-528.
[17] Ma Yu, Lu Jianyun, Sun Fengxia, et al. Preventive effect of Masson pine pollen extract on mice with prostatic hypertrophy and metabonomics [J]. Journal of Food Safety Quality Detection, 2016, 7 (8): 3259-3264.
[18] Peng Xiujuan, Yang Zhijie, Liu Banxian, Qinling Pine Pollen for the Treatment of Prostatic Hyperplasia in Mice [J].Henan Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2014, 34 (6): 1048-1049.
[19] Zhu Baoan, Zhang Junyao. Effects of total sterols from pine pollen on benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats [J]. Modern preventive medicine, 2016, 43 (4): 623-626.
[20] Clinical observation of chronic prostatitis treated by Liu donglin-terazosin combined with pine pollen [J].Shanxi Medical Journal, 2014, (19): 2320-2321.
[21] Hu Shuibao, Li Hailong, Chen Linwan, et al. Study on the anti-fatigue effect of Makasong pollen mixture [J]. Channel Pharmaceutical, 2014, (6): 42-44.
[22] Wu Jingjing, Huang Peihua, Zhu Liang, et al. Anti-fatigue effects of total flavonoids from Masson Pine Pollen on mice [J].Modern Food Science and Technology, 2010, 26 (8): 815-817.
[23] Zhang Han, Song Hang, Chen Shanshan, et al. Preliminary study on water extract of Masson pine pollen to prevent obesity in mice [J]. Journal of Nutrition, 2013, 35 (2): 195-198.
[24] Song Hang, Zhang Han, Liu Ming, et al. Experimental study on lipid-lowering effect and obesity prevention of ethanol extract of Masson pine pollen [J]. Research and development of natural products, 2013, 25 (2): 253-257.
[25] Li Tieyu, Li Guangzhe, Xu Yanji, et al. Effects of pine pollen on memory impairment and changes of monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase activity in brain tissue of dementia model mice [J].Journal of Medical Sciences of Yanbian University, 2012, 35(1): 16-18.
[26] Mao Genxiang, Cao Yongbao, He Zhihua, et al. Effects of pine pollen on learning and memory function of aging mice induced by D-galactose [J].Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, 2012, 12(4):290-293.
[27] Shi Weilin, Ren Ziyan, Cao Cunfeng, et al. Improvement of learning and memory impairment in lead poisoned mice by pine pollen [J]. Food Science, 2014, 35 (19): 277-279.
[28] Huang Jing, Wang Shenggui, Hu Shuibao, et al. Application of evidence-based medicine in verifying the hypolipidemic effect of Pinus massoniana pollen in Antibang soft capsules [J]. Anhui Agricultural Science, 2013, (14): 6218-6219.
[29] Liu Yuling, Wang Jianwei, Tong Jiming, et al. Preventive effect of pine pollen extract on experimental hyperlipidemia in rats [J]. Laboratory Animal Science, 2013, 30 (5): 41-43.
[30] Pan Xiaoling, Zhu Jianping. Hypoglycemic effect of pollen of Pinus tabulaeformis [J]. Chinese Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 2006, 26 (6): 777-778.
[31] Xuan Zihua, Hu Cuiyun, Wang Xuelin, et al. Determination of chromium in pollen of chromium-rich pine and Study on its hypoglycemic effect [J]. Anhui Medicine, 2011, 15(7): 801-803.
[32] Fang Chaohui, Wang Xuelin, Chen Jinlin, et al. [J].Clinical Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2011, 23 (8): 684-685.
[33] Yu Lu, Shi Chunxia. The effect of pine pollen on mitochondrial DNA deletion mutation in senile fibroblasts [J]. Gerontology of China, 2012, 32 (24): 5438-5441.
[34] Liu Hongyan, Zhang Hao, Sun Xiujuan, et al. Pine pollen prevents and delays the expression of IGF-1 in ductal cells of parotid gland tissue senescence [J].Hebei Medical College, 2013, 19(8): 1121-1123.
[35] Niu Siyun, Han Guangming, Liu Hongyan, et al. Effects of pine pollen on gonadal axis secretion in male aging rats [J].Hebei Medical College, 2011, 17(7): 872-874.
[36] Yang Fan, Ma Huiqun, Zeng Weihui, et al. Apoptosis of rat keratinocytes and intervention of pine pollen during skin aging [J]. Journal of Xi’an Jiaotong University (Medical Edition), 2011, 32 (1): 65-68.
