Abstract: In the present study, Camellia japonica bee pollen from five geographical origins in China were analyzed for total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. We also evaluated the antioxidant capacity and hepatoprotective effects of C. japonica bee pollen on acute alcohol-induced liver damage in mice. The results showed that C. japonica bee pollen from Zhejiang province exhibited the highest total phenolic (8.97 mg/g calculated as gallic acid equivalent) and total flavonoid content (3.01 mg/g calculated as rutin equivalent) and strong antioxidant capacity. Oral administration of mice with crude C. japonica bee pollen for 7 consecutive weeks significantly increased serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (P < 0.05), lowered the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase as well as lipoprotein oxidation in serum (P < 0.05), enhanced the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in liver (P < 0.05), and decreased the formation of malondialdehyde in liver (P < 0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that C. japonica bee pollen is efficacious for the prevention and treatment of alcohol-induced hepatic injury in mice. This study concluded that C. japonica bee pollen exhibits hepatoprotective properties and may be used as an ingredient of functional foods.

Key words: Camellia japonica bee pollen, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, antioxidant, hepatoprotective