Hydroxycinnamic acid amide derivatives, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of extracts of pollen samples from Southeast Brazil.

Seven bee pollen samples (C1-C7) with different palynological sources were harvested from Pindamonhangaba municipality (Southeast Brazil). Methanol extracts of untreated samples (control), samples frozen at -18 °C and samples frozen and then dried were analyzed by HPLC/PAD/ESI/MS/MS. Flavonoid diglycosides of quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and patuletin were detected, together with hydroxycinnamic acid amide derivatives, such as N',N'',N'''-tris-p-feruloylspermidine and N',N'',N'''-tris-p-coumaroylspermidine. Distinct phenolic profiles characterized the analyzed samples, but no differences were noted as resulting from different treatments. Total phenolic contents determined with the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent ranged from 1.7 to 2.2%. Antioxidant activities above 75%, based on the DPPH method, were observed for all extracts, not correlated with total phenolic contents. Among samples from the same origin, those frozen were more active than samples untreated (control), and the samples frozen and then dried were the most active.