Biochemical studies of bee-collected pollen in Egypt 2. Fatty acids and non saponifiables

Gas-liquid chromatography was used for the identification and quantitilative analysis of fatty acids and non-saponifiables of pollen grains from the five major pollen sources in the Kafr EI-Sheikh region of Egypt. Myristic and linolenic acids were the major acids in pollen of Egyptian clover and wild mustard, and myristic and oleic acids the major acids of pollen from yellow sweet clover and maize. Pollen from faba bean was high in both palmitic and linolenic acids. Pollen from all five sources contained C₂₀-C₃₂ hydrocarbons in relative amounts that varied with the source. Non-saponifiable lipids may provide a key for identification of pollen sources.