Abstract
The phytochemical contents, physicochemical properties, and free radical scavenging activity of royal jelly (RJ), secreted by honeybees (Apis mellifera) were studied. The samples had similar components, although some such as fructose, glucose, and 10-hydroxy-2-decanoic acid, varied in comparison to RJ from Asian and European honeybees. They showed significant free radical scavenging potential (170 ± 60 mg/mL), suggesting the possible use of African RJ as a nutraceutical substance. However, weak positive correlations of 0.213, and 0.002, were found between the free radical scavenging activity and phytochemicals (phenols and flavonoids, respectively), implying that the biofunctional properties of RJ do not derive from the phytochemicals. Instead, principal component analysis (PCA) showed that sugars explain the free radical scavenging activity. PCA clustered the samples into sampling locations, signifying the influence of the geographical area on the composition of RJ.
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