Among the products that can be extracted from the forests of pine and eucalyptus are derivatives of beekeeping. Among them are honey, pollen and propolis.
Honey is preferably obtained from eucalypt forests.
Regarding the organoleptic characteristics can be noted that this type of honey has, a 'naked eye, a light to dark amber and measuring with the Pfund grader, a range from 41 to 71 mm Pfund, characteristic odor (remember the vegetable source), strong and persistent flavor. Also, the crystallization is fast, compact mass with fine crystals or media. Eucalyptus trees
high performance are nectar and pollen. However, this depends on the plant species and environmental conditions prevailing at the time of foragers by the honeybee. Within the genus Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus globulus are at the greatest value nectar.
Some authors attribute certain medicinal properties of eucalyptus honey, as cited serves to relieve coughs or colds. The bees collect pollen
both eucalyptus and pine. Among the qualities that can highlight the eucalyptus pollen loads are its yellow - orange and its high protein content. Regarding the latter, research in Australia resulted in values \u200b\u200branging between 20.5 and 33.3% protein for eight different species of eucalyptus. In our province has conducted studies on the matter, found a mean value of 23.73% of protein for Eucalyptus spp (not discriminate between species). These high levels of proteins in the pollen loads are very beneficial both for feeding bees to this type of pollen is used as a dietary supplement for human consumption.
Although all species of eucalyptus produce pollen, the Eucalyptus camuldulensisestá among the first places.
Regarding charges of pine pollen, there are no accurate studies on them. However there have been in the states of Oregon and Utah (USA) bees collecting pollen intensively from this tree.
pine has been described as one of the trees used to make bee propolis. The same is a gummy substance collected by these insects from pine resins produced. Pine propolis is composed of 50% resins, 40% wax and 10% of essential oils.
Propolis, being a resinous substance, insoluble in water, soluble in ether, hot alcohol, ammonia y en potasa.
En la colmena los propóleos son utilizados por la abeja para cubrir cualquier grieta o rajadura que haya en ella, soldar los panales entre sí, cubrir cadáveres de ratones u otros animales que por su volumen las abejas no pueden sacar de la colmena. Asimismo lo utilizan, en distinta formas, como una sustancia bactericida, funguicida y antibiótica.
El hombre puede utilizar los propóleos en medicina veterinaria o en medicina humana.
Experimentos llevados a cabo en diversos centros de investigación a través del mundo mostraron que las soluciones o cremas a base de propóleo, en determinadas concentraciones, tienen (sobre' animales de sangre caliente incluído el hombre) una intensa actividad antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, cytotoxic and antiprotozoal. It has also been discovered, among others, which can regenerate some tissues can be used as anesthetic and hepatoprotective substance protects the tissues against certain types of radiation, prevents the 'cavities. Although many of these studies were conducted in the laboratory (not patients) and small-scale beekeeping this product promises to be a powerful ally in the fight against certain diseases. More research in this direction are necessary for that purpose.
Finally, these products were obtained in the stands of those species, could be a productive alternative to both the beekeeper como el forestal.
Asimismo en los ambientes académicos se tendrían que formar líneas de investigación, debido a la escasísima información científica local existente, que estudien las formas de producción, la calidad y otros aspectos de interés de estos productos apícolas procedentes de montes forestales implantados
