Comparative analysis of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of three different types of honey

Abstract

Honey is a natural product which has high nutritional value. Also,  it has health benefits, which is the reason for its been used for the prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress for centuries in many countries. Honey has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which are the result of the presence of enzymes and chemical and phytochemical components, where phenolic acids and flavonoids play a significant role. The aim of this study was to examine the physico-chemical parameters, antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of forest-meadow, acacia and sunflower honey from the Gruža and Požega areas (Republic of Serbia). The tested physico-chemical parameters were found to be within the values prescribed by the Legislation and the Codex Alimentarius Standard. The presence of HMF was not detected in the sample of forest-meadow honey, while the content in other samples (1.09 and 1.79 mg HMF kg^-1) was significantly below the value laid down by regulations (40 mg HMF kg^-1). Forestmeadow honey had the highest antioxidant activity (35.2%, 26.32% – ABTS and DPPH method, respectively) and the highest content of total phenolics (90.96±5.18 g GAE 100 g^-1), while acacia honey exhibited the lowest values for antioxidant activity (11.76% – ABTS; 7.28% – DPPH) and total phenolics (15.75±0,66 g GAE 100 g^-1). Forest-meadow honey showed the best antibacterial activity, followed by sunflower and acacia honey.