PHENOLIC COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF RANUNCULUS ARVENSIS L. FLOWER POLLEN: IN VITRO AND SILICO INSIGHTS

Ranunculus arvensis L., although classified as a poisonous plant, holds significant value in medicine, food, and apiculture. Its pollen is actively collected by various bee species, including honeybees, and stored as a vital nutritional reserve for their larvae. This study investigates the polyphenol and flavonoid content, as well as the antioxidant properties, of R. arvensis flower pollen. The antioxidant activity of the pollen, sourced from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, was measured as 179.102 ± 1.5919 μmol FeSO₄·7H₂O/g dw using the FRAP method and 0.137 ± 0.015 mg/mL using the DPPH method. The phenolic content of the methanolic extract was determined to be 17.952 ± 0.160 mg/g, while the flavonoid content was 5.660 ± 0.055 mg/g. Phenolic profiling via HPLC identified six key compounds: ferulic acid (521.163 µg/g), caffeic acid (170.119 µg/g), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (46.529 µg/g), protocatechuic acid (22.377 µg/g), chrysin (11.353 µg/g), and pinocembrin (10.953 µg/g). Quantum chemistry calculations revealed that ferulic acid and caffeic acid, the most abundant phenolic compounds, exhibited the most favorable profiles for antioxidant activity. These findings suggest that these two compounds are the primary contributors to the antioxidant potential of the pollen extract. Given the nutritional and pharmacological significance of bee products, continued investigation into the phytochemical composition of flower pollen is essential to better understand its functional properties and applications.