RESUMO
Over the past eight years, bee products such as wax, honey, propolis, and pollen have generated intense curiosity about their potential food uses; to explore these possibilities, this review examines the nutritional benefits and notable characteristics of each product related to the food industry. While all offer distinct advantages, there are challenges to overcome, including the risk of honey contamination. Indeed, honey has excellent potential as a healthier alternative to sugar, while propolis's remarkable antibacterial and antioxidant properties can be enhanced through microencapsulation. Pollen is a versatile food with multiple applications in various products. In addition, the addition of beeswax to oleogels and its use as a coating demonstrate significant improvements in the quality and preservation of environmentally sustainable foods over time. This study demonstrates that bee products and apitherapy are essential for sustainable future food and innovative medical treatments.
RESUMO
Scientific research addressing environmental conditions of aquatic ecosystems has high priority in Peru. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge on environmental contamination of Peruvian marine ecosystems. To address this knowledge gap, this review article summarizes the available information in order to estimate the environmental health status (EHS) of Peruvian marine ecosystems. In this study, none of the studied Peruvian marine ecosystems could be rated as EHS-good, and the southernmost locations showed the most degraded conditions and a low EHS. Freshwater and brackish ecosystems contribute to the overall metal concentrations in Peruvian marine ecosystems. Environmental contamination and stressors are also reaching the Peruvian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The management of coastal marine areas and MPAs in Peru should be urgently re-formulated. This study also identifies the optimal bio-monitoring approach in the current economic situation in Peru, and how marine research studies can support adjacent fields, e.g. nutrition and human health.
Assuntos
Ecossistema , Metais , Água Doce , Humanos , PeruRESUMO
Seafood could be a promising way to supplement healthy fatty acids and trace elements to the Peruvian diet. Seafood from northern Peru was characterized with the highest relative concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), while in the center region marine species had the lowest As and Pb contents. Peruvian marine species are rich in LC-PUFAs and micro-nutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn), including species considered as potentially edible (e.g. Cycloxanthops sexdecimdentatus), but also non-edible species (e.g. Caulerpa filiformis). Nevertheless, it is crucial to consider toxic metals, e.g. As and Cd, which could pose a risk for consumers. High levels of beneficial LC-PUFAs and micro-nutrients would be taken up (up to 80% of the recommended values) when the Peruvian population would consume the estimated safe amount of seafood. Scoring species for fatty acid and metal content resulted in gastropods (e.g. Bursa ventricosa) as being the least beneficial species.