Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg is a plant endemic to the Northern and Central regions of Morocco known since the ancient Roman and Greek times for secreting a poisonous latex containing resiniferatoxin. However, E. resinifera pseudo-inflorescences called cyathia are devoid of laticifers and, therefore, do not secrete latex. Instead, they exudate nectar that local honey bees collect and craft into honey. Honey and cyathium water extracts find a broad range of applications in the traditional medicine of Northern Africa as ointments and water decoctions. Moreover, E. resinifera monofloral honey has received the Protected Geographic Indication certification for its outstanding qualities. Given the relevance of E. resinifera cyathia for bee nutrition, honey production, and the health benefit of cyathium-derived products, this study aimed to screen metabolites synthesized and accumulated in its pseudo-inflorescences. Our analyses revealed that E. resinifera cyathia accumulate primary metabolites in considerable abundance, including hexoses, amino acids and vitamins that honey bees may collect from nectar and craft into honey. Cyathia also synthesize volatile organic compounds of the class of benzenoids and terpenes, which are emitted by flowers pollinated by honey bees and bumblebees. Many specialized metabolites, including carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyamines, were also detected, which, while protecting the reproductive organs against abiotic stresses, also confer antioxidant properties to water decoctions. In conclusion, our analyses revealed that E. resinifera cyathia are a great source of antioxidant molecules and a good food source for the local foraging honeybees, revealing the central role of the flowers from this species in mediating interactions with local pollinators and the conferral of medicinal properties to plant extracts.

大戟是摩洛哥北部和中部地区特有的植物，自古罗马和希腊时代起就因分泌含有树脂毒素的有毒乳胶而闻名。然而，被称为 cyathia 的 E.resinifera 假花序缺乏乳腺，因此不分泌乳胶。相反，它们分泌的花蜜被当地蜜蜂收集并加工成蜂蜜。蜂蜜和 Cyathium 水提取物在北非的传统医学中作为软膏和水煎剂有着广泛的应用。此外，树脂花单花蜂蜜以其卓越的品质获得了地理标志保护认证。鉴于 E.resinifera cyathia 与蜜蜂营养、蜂蜜生产以及 cyathium 衍生产品的健康益处的相关性，本研究旨在筛选其假花序中合成和积累的代谢物。我们的分析表明，E.resinifera cyathia 积累了大量初级代谢物，包括蜜蜂可能从花蜜中收集并加工成蜂蜜的己糖、氨基酸和维生素。桫椤还合成苯类和萜烯类的挥发性有机化合物，这些化合物是由蜜蜂和熊蜂授粉的花朵散发出来的。还检测到了许多专门的代谢物，包括类胡萝卜素、类黄酮和多胺，它们在保护生殖器官免受非生物胁迫的同时，还赋予水煎剂抗氧化特性。总之，我们的分析表明，E.resinifera cyathia 是抗氧化剂分子的重要来源，也是当地觅食蜜蜂的良好食物来源，揭示了该物种的花在介导与当地授粉媒介的相互作用以及赋予药用价值方面的核心作用。植物提取物的特性。