Based on the CNKI Chinese Journal Full-text Database, with “Song Huang/Pine Yellow” and “Song Hua Fen/pine pollen powder” as the subject words and “subject” as the search scope, more than 40 articles with high correlation and low repeatability were selected according to the title and abstract of the literature.
According to the literature records[1], there are 300 million mu of Pinus massoniana forest in South China. From January to March, the pine pollen powder is scattered with the wind, which is difficult to collect in large quantities. The collection period is only 2 to 3 days. However, the climate in Jiangsu and Zhejiang is changeable, and the pine pollen powder is easy to mildew and difficult to store, which is the main factor restricting the pine pollen powder industry. However, in recent years, with a large number of experimental studies on the medicinal value of pine pollen powder and the rapid spread of health preservation, the attention and application of pine pollen powder are also increasing.
Pharmacological Actions Study on Pine Pollen Powder
1. Lowering blood fat, blood sugar and preventing diabetes
Fan Bolin et al. [2] established a high-fat model by feeding rats with high-fat diet, and detected the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density cholesterol. The serum was repeatedly detected after 30 days of preventive feeding of pine pollen powder. The results showed that the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in the high-dose group decreased and the levels of high-density cholesterol increased, which was significantly different from that in the model group. Pan Xiaoling et al [3] established the diabetic mice model, and divided them into groups for 30 days to detect fasting blood glucose. The results showed that compared with the negative control group, the high dose group of pine pollen powder could significantly reduce the 2-hour phase blood glucose content and the area under the blood glucose curve of alloxan induced diabetic mice, indicating that pine pollen powder had the function of lowering blood glucose.
2. Reduce Oxidation Speed and Delay Aging
In order to study the antioxidant activity of pine pollen powder, Cheng Ni et al. [4] used HPLC-ECD method to determine the content of phenolic compounds in the water extract and ethanol (80% by volume) extract of pine pollen powder, and evaluated their protective effects on 2-deoxyribose cleavage mediated by hydroxyl radicals. The results showed that pine pollen powder extract (related to a large number of phenolic compounds) could protect 2-deoxyribose cleavage mediated by hydroxyl radicals by scavenging hydroxyl radicals. Zhao Lixin et al. [5] observed the growth rate of human embryonic lung senescent fibroblasts by the action of pine pollen powder, measured the senescence of cells by β – galactosidase staining, and measured the change of telomerase activity before and after treatment by trap-elisa. The results showed that the effect of pine pollen powder on the cells could significantly promote the doubling level of cell population, significantly reduce the senescent fibroblasts, significantly increase the telomerase activity, and there was a dose-dependent relationship, which suggested that pine pollen powder might delay cell aging by activating the telomerase activity in cells.
3. Relieve Muscle Fatigue and Enhance Body Endurance
Liu Xie et al. [6] administrated pine pollen powder to mice for 30 consecutive days, then divided them into groups for anti fatigue test, and determined the content of blood lactate, glycogen and urea nitrogen after exercise. The results showed that the blood lactate content of the mice fed with pine pollen powder was significantly lower than that of the control group, the liver glycogen content of the mice in each dose group of pine pollen powder was higher than that of the control group, the serum urea nitrogen content of the mice in the middle and high dose groups of pine pollen powder was lower than that of the control group, and there were significant and extremely significant differences compared with the control group, which indicated that the supplement of pine pollen powder could reduce the energy supply of protein during exercise. It is proved that pine pollen powder can effectively prolong exercise time, relieve muscle fatigue and enhance body endurance by increasing liver glycogen reserve, reducing protein energy supply and reducing lactate production.
4. Moistening and Relaxing the Bowels
Peng Liang et al.[7] perfused the pine pollen powder solution of the stomach of the constipation model mice for 7 consecutive days, and then carried out the small intestine movement test and the regular defecation test. The results showed that the ink propulsion rate of the mice in each dose group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference between the low dose group and the constipation model control group was significant; the first defecation time of each dose group was shorter than that in the constipation model control group, and the low dose group and the constipation model There was significant difference in the control group; the number and weight of feces in each dose group were higher than those in the constipation model control group, and the difference between the low dose group and the constipation model control group was significant. It is proved that pine pollen powder can promote the small intestine movement of mice, shorten the first defecation time of mice with constipation, and increase the number and weight of feces.
5. Hepatoprotective and Anticancer Effects
Luo Yanhong et al. [8] proved that pine pollen powder had a certain effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cell line, not by reducing the bcl-2 protein which inhibited apoptosis, but by reducing the expression of PTEN protein. PTEN gene is a tumor suppressor determined by three American research groups in recent years. Because PTEN can inhibit the growth of tumor cells and control the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells by inhibiting many signal pathways of cell proliferation [9] . PTEN can regulate cell proliferation through PI3K / Akt signaling pathway and selective inhibition of MAPK pathway, dephosphorylate FAK and Shc and inhibit cell migration through the function of protein phosphatase. Yu Wenjun et al. [10] detected the content of PIVKA – Ⅱ, AFP and VEGF in the supernatant of the cultured cells in the treatment group of pine pollen powder and the control group of HepG2 by ELISA. The results showed that the content of PIVKA – Ⅱ and AFP in the pine pollen powder treatment group was significantly lower than that in the HepG2 control group (P < 0.05); the content of VEGF in the pine pollen powder treatment group was significantly lower than that in the HepG2 control group (P < 0.05), it is suggested that the inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells by pine pollen powder may be related to the downregulation of PIVKA – Ⅱ, AFP and VEGF.
6. Prevention of Prostatic Hyperplasia
Peng Xiujuan et al. [11] used the method of intraperitoneal injection of testosterone propionate to induce the model of BPH in mice. The high dose group, the middle dose group and the low dose group were given different doses of water decoction of pine pollen powder by gavage, the positive control group was given QianLieKang(A kind of Chinese patent medicine) water suspension, the blank group and the model group were given equal volume saline. The results showed that compared with the model group, there was no significant difference between the blank group, the positive control group, the high dose group, the middle dose group and the low dose group in the wet weight of prostate and the prostate index; compared with the high dose group, the middle dose group and the low dose group and the positive control group, there was no significant difference in the wet weight of anterior gland and the prostate index. It can be concluded that pine pollen powder can inhibit the hyperplasia of prostate in mice induced by testosterone propionate. The results of artificial mouse prostate hypertrophy model by Ma Yu et al[12] showed that pine pollen powder treatment reduced prostate index, inflammatory cytokines, DHT concentration, PAcP and NOS activity of BPH mice, and reduced NO production. that is, masson pine pollen powder extract can significantly reduce the pathological symptoms and related biochemical indicators of prostate hypertrophy in mice The mechanism of adenohypertrophy may be related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.
7. Other Actions
In addition to the above functions, pine pollen powder, as an ancient food source and drug source, has been listed as a common food management by the Ministry of health of China in recent years, with various health care functions such as improving immunity [13], anti fatigue [6, 14], anti-oxidation [15]. Some other studies have shown that pine pollen powder has the effect of regulating gastrointestinal function [16]. Zhao Lin [17] and other researchers found that adding a small amount of pine pollen powder to the feed can help animals prevent constipation, prevent colon cancer and improve intestinal flora. Wu Banghua et al. [18] pointed out that nearly 100 kinds of enzymes contained in pine pollen powder of Pinus koraiensis can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, help digestion and improve appetite.
Study on the Toxicology of Pine Pollen Powder
Lu Mei et al. [19] tested the mice according to the safety toxicology evaluation procedure and inspection method specification in the health food functional evaluation procedure and inspection method specification (2003 version) issued by the former Ministry of health. The acute toxicity test, genetic toxicity test and 30 day feeding test were carried out on the mice. The results showed that the toxicity test of the mice was negative and the dirty body ratio was normal. With the approval of the ethical review committee of human trial of health food of the disease prevention and control center of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China, and with the informed consent of all volunteers, Wen Pingjing [20] conducted a study on the trial effect of pine pollen powder on the population under the close supervision of a local top three hospital. Before and after the test, there was no significant change in the general conditions of volunteers, such as spirit, sleep, blood pressure, blood, urine, stool routine and liver and kidney function tests, indicating that pine pollen powder had no harm to human health.
Application of Pine Pollen Powder
Food Industry
pine pollen powder can be used to make liquid food, such as Gevas beverage(A kind of drink in China) [21], which has unique flavor, fragrant smell and smooth taste. It is not only a good drink for drinking but also a good drink for health care. Liu Min et al. [22] developed a type of beverage with Rosa roxburghii juice and pine pollen powder as the main raw materials. In addition, it can also be used to make solid food. Sun Lei et al. [23] used pine pollen powder of Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densifloraand and milk powder as the ingredients to process edible powder crystals and milk tablets, which are easy to store and absorb.
Cosmetics Industry
pine pollen powder contains all the nutrients and bioactive substances of pine trees, including more than 20 kinds of amino acids, 15 kinds of vitamins, 30 kinds of mineral elements, 11% fat, nearly 100 kinds of enzymes and coenzymes, as well as nucleic acids, unsaturated fatty acids, lecithin, flavonoids, monosaccharides, polysaccharides, etc., with a total amount of more than 200 Species [24]. It can ensure skin nutrition supply, make up for the lack of daily diet, prevent the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, protect skin cells, promote hair growth, resist free radicals, prevent skin roughness, and achieve the effect of beautifying skin.
Conclusion
The medicinal value of pine pollen powder is based on ancient literature records and modern pharmacological research, and many toxicological experiments have not shown that it has obvious toxic reaction. In Shennong Materia Classics, Compendium of Materia Medica and New Materia Medica and other medical books, pine pollen powder has the effects of benefiting qi and expelling wind, astringent and hemostasis, facial skin nourishment and longevity [25]. Some traditional foods such as Songhua/pine pollen wine, Songhua/pine pollen cake and Songhua/pine pollen dumpling still use and add pine pollen powder. In 1997, the Ministry of health of the people’s Republic of China confirmed pine pollen powder as a new resource variety; in 2014, the national health and Family Planning Commission issued the measures for the management of traditional Chinese medicine and food catalogue [26], in which pine pollen powder varieties were added and listed in the national standard for Chinese medicine. In addition, pine pollen powder can also be used in daily chemical industry as talcum powder or added to other cosmetics and toiletries to achieve the effect of beauty.
According to the analysis of ancient and modern literature, pine pollen powder has been used in dietotherapy for a long time, but there are not many medicinal diet and dietotherapy products with pine pollen powder as the main raw material. The author compared the pharmacological effects of pine pollen powder with 27 declared functions of health food in China, and found that at least 10 of them were completely consistent, which indicated that pine pollen powder has great potential development value in the application of health food.
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