Physiochemical, Biochemical, Minerals Content Analysis, and Antioxidant Potential of National and International Honeys in Pakistan

Mahmood Ahmed,Abdul Samad,Amir Ali,Rahila Huma,Ayesha Khalid,Muhammad Abdul Qadir,Muhammad Imtiaz Shafiq,Anum Khaleeq

doi:10.1155/2016/8072305

Mahmood Ahmed, Abdul Samad + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8072305

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Abstract

16 honey samples from Pakistan and two other countries were investigated for their physiochemical, biochemical, minerals, and antioxidant potential. Antioxidant activities of all honey samples were performed by using percentage inhibition of DPPH free radical, AEAC, and FRAP. 5-HMF and mineral contents were determined by HPLC and AAS, respectively. The obtained values of respective parameters, namely, pH, EC, TDS, total acidity, moisture, ash, color intensity, sugars, proline, and protein were in compliance with codex standard and recommendation of council directive by European Union. The total phenolics contents in acacia honey from Germany and jujube honey from Pakistan are similar to monofloral honey from Saudi Arabia and Yemen, respectively. The mineral contents in tested honey samples are comparable with honey from Brazil and Romania. Dark color honeys contained higher phenolic contents than light color ones and attributed to higher oxidation potential and have strong positive correlation with DPPH and FRAP.

Highlights

Honey is complex supersaturated sweet natural liquid produced by honeybees from the nectar of plants
To the best of our knowledge, this is first study established in Pakistan for physiochemical (pH, electrical conductivity, acidity, total dissolved solids, moisture, color, ash, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) concentrations, and color intensity), biochemical, mineral contents (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and antioxidant activities such as Acid Equivalent Antioxidant Content (AEAC), scavenging activity of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) of honey available in a second largest city (Lahore) of the country
Acidic pH is characteristic of honey; the pH value (Table 1) of twelve Pakistani and four exotic tested honey samples was found to be between 3.83 and 4.28 while free acidity of multifloral honey was between 12.3 and 33.7 meq/kg and the lactone acidity was observed between 3.4 and 12.1 meq/kg which are comparable with already reported values in different region of world

Summary

Introduction

Honey is complex supersaturated sweet natural liquid produced by honeybees from the nectar of plants. Antioxidants reduce the risk of chronic disease emerged as a result of oxidative damage such as cancer, heart disease, and neurological degeneration [18] These degenerative diseases are initiated by the oxidative mechanism of free radicals like peroxides, hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxyl so polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids present in honey scavenge these free radicals to oxidize the proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids and inhibit the degenerative diseases [19]. To the best of our knowledge, this is first study established in Pakistan for physiochemical (pH, electrical conductivity, acidity, total dissolved solids, moisture, color, ash, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) concentrations, and color intensity), biochemical (sugars, total phenolics and flavonoids, protein, ascorbic acid, and proline contents), mineral contents (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and antioxidant activities such as AEAC (ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant content), scavenging activity of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical, and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) of honey available in a second largest city (Lahore) of the country

Materials and Methods

Physiochemical Analysis

Biochemical Analysis

Antioxidant Activities

Results and Discussion