Dried honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) podmore, a byproduct of apiculture, is studied as a…

Dried honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) podmore, a byproduct of apiculture, is studied as a potential functional food ingredient. Its proximate composition and mineral content were analyzed, revealing high protein (47.13 g/100 g dry weight) and ash (19.28 g/100 g dry weight) levels, along with essential minerals such as calcium (8100 ppm) and potassium (6000 ppm).

The podmore contains significant amounts of chitin (10.26 g/100 g dry weight) and chitosan (6.00 g/100 g dry weight), biopolymers known for their bioactivity. Amino acid profiling showed abundant glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and essential branched-chain amino acids like leucine, lysine, and valine.