Pollen is made up of many chemical constituents such as proteins, sugars, lipids, minerals and phytochemicals. These components make pollen products an excellent source of nutrients and antioxidants for consumers. However, mycotoxigenic fungi are also common in pollen, creating contamination from generated mycotoxins. With adequate monitoring, sampling, processing and storage of pollen the development of mycotoxins can be significantly prevented. Since pollen grain has strong membranes which can limit the bioavailability of some nutrients and phytochemicals, novel methods and pretreatments are required with special emphasis on microbiological pretreatment methodologies. Pollen Chemistry & Biotechnology summarizes current knowledge of the chemical composition of pollen, its importance as a functional food ingredient and its health promoting properties. As Introduction part a short elaborate about botanical characteristics and data, including morphology and anatomy of pollen and bee preferences, is given. Important factors such as the botanical and geographical origin, best practices for preservation of nutritional composition, bioactivity and safety of pollen are covered in full. The nutritional profile of pollen based on data for minerals, lipids and nutrients is presented. A detailed phytochemical profile of pollen based on data for phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins, bioactive compounds is also covered. Areas for the improvement of the bioavailability of different nutrients and bioactive compounds of pollen via applied pretreatments are presented, as are best practices for adequate pollen collection, procession and storage in order to obtain safe products. At the end, an overview about pollen bioactivity as reason to use it as source of pharmaceuticals is made.

The nature .and diversity of presentations at the conference on: "Bee Products: Prop erties, Applications and Apitherapy" held at Tel-Aviv on May 26--30, 1996, emphasize the increasing interest of physicians, practitioners, scientists, herbalists, dieticians, cosmeti cians, microbiologists, and beekeepers in different facets of bee products. This volume consists of a selection of 31 contributions presented at the conference and which provide information on the present status of our knowledge in this area. In spite of their diversity, they reflect the mainstream of the conference, namely: "Imported" Prod ucts (honey, pollen and propolis), Exocrine Secretions of Workers (venom, royal jelly). Toxicity and Contaminants, Quality Control, Marketing, Apitherapy, Cosmetics, etc. Since antiquity, honey as well as other bee products were used as food, as a cure for ailments of humans and animals, and as cosmetics. We hope that this volume will contribute to interdisciplinary studies on chemical composition, pharmacological effects, nutrition, and other aspects of bee products. Critical and unbiased experimental research may unravel the yet unknown composition and mode of action of bee products and elucidate many unanswered questions. The noteworthy features of this conference were the participants from all parts of the world and of different cultural backgrounds, who shared their keen interest and curios ity regarding honey bees and their products. We thank all of them for their personal con tribution to the success of this conference.

Analyses were made to compare different techniques of pollen extraction and to investigate the pollen contents of East Texas honey. A new alcohol technique for diluting honey is described, and pollen recovery of honey samples diluted with water and alcohol using different centrifugation times was examined. Pollen concentrations of alcohol-diluted samples were significantly higher than those of water-diluted samples. There was no significant difference in the number of pollen taxa recovered between the water long spin technique, and the alcohol technique, however, there was a significant difference between pollen recovery of the water short spin technique versus the alcohol technique. Five samples were compared using the alcohol dilution technique to a new filter technique. No significant difference was found in pollen recovery or concentration values between the two techniques. Pollen counts of 400 or 500 pollen grains yielded significantly more taxa than lesser counts. Taxa in frequency classes remained constant for most pollen types between 200 and 500 grain counts. Variation among five different drops of the same sample was investigated using 200, 300, 400, and 500 pollen grain counts. No significant differences were found in pollen concentration, but each successively higher count had significantly more taxa. Pollen was analyzed from 36 East Texas honeys samples. A total of 431 pollen types (including unknowns) were found. Half of the samples contained between 31-40 pollen types, indicating a diverse botanical flora. Native flora contributed more to East Texas honey than did horticulturalized taxa. All samples, except two, were classified as mixed floral honeys. Berchemia scandens, Salix nigra, and Toxicodendron radicans were found in more than 80% of the East Texas honey samples. Honeys from the northern regions of East Texas are characterized by Berchemia scandens, Ceanothus americanus, Nyssa sylvatica, Rhamnus caroliniana, Salix nigra, and three unknowns. The southern regions are characterized by Mimosa strigillosa, Berchemia scandens, Poaceae, and four unknowns. In general, East Texas honeys are characterized by a combination of Berchemia scandens, unknown 236, Rhamnus caroliniana, and Salix nigra. The most important honey bee floral resources in East Texas appear to be Rhamnaceae, especially Berchemia scandens.