Determination of Several Bitlis Honeys based on their Botanic and Biochemical Profiles

Abstract

Objective: In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the pollen composition and antioxidant activity of 4 randomly selected honey samples from the Bitlis region in 2017. Material and Method: The melisopalynological analysis was used standard protocol without acetolysis. The antioxidant activity of samples were evaluated using several in vitro methods, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (HPSA), Ferrous ions chelating activities (FICA), 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical cation scavenging assays (ABTS) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power assays (FRAP). Result and Discussion: All the samples were determined as multifloral honey. Outcomes obtained declared that the antioxidant activity changed remarkably from honey to honey. ABTS and FICA of samples differ slightly each other’s. DPPH, HPSA, and FRAP were ranged from between 54.45 – 387.60 µg/mL, 212.11 – 246.64 µg/mL and 47.20 – 78.23 %, respectively. In addition, total phenol and total flavonoid contents were determined. Comparatively, Sample 3 showed highest levels of phenolic and flavonoid content (626.48 mg GAE/100 g and 4.4 mg CAE/100 g, respectively) in ethanol extract. Almost all the samples are well source for antioxidants.