Study on the Physicochemical Parameters, Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Properties of Indian Honey Samples from Extrafloral Sources and Multi Floral Sources

Abstract

Physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant activities and phenolic profile of honey obtained from extrafloral nectar (EFH) and the honey obtained from a mixed floral source (wild honey) were compared in this study. The antioxidant capacity of honey samples was examined using in vitro assays. The honey samples vary widely in their physicochemical as well as antioxidant properties. EFH samples had Total Phenolic Content (TPC) ranging from 207.4 ± 12.6 mg gallic acid/kg to 230.3 ± 22 mg gallic acid/kg but did not show potent DPPH radical scavenging activity. One of the EFH samples has shown 50% inhibition at the tested concentration (100 mg/100 μL) for hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. HPLC chromatograms showed the presence of gallic acid and chlorogenic acid in the wild and EFH sample. The samples used for HPLC profiling had higher TPC content (680.95 ± 4.47 mg gallic acid/kg for wild honey and 568.73 ± 3.61 mg gallic acid/kg for EFH) than the 24 samples studied.