Abstract
Portuguese honeys (n = 15) from different botanical and geographical origins were analysed regarding their quality parameters (diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, moisture and pH), colour (L*, a*, b*) and antioxidant profile (total phenolics content, total flavonoids content, DPPH• scavenging activity, and ferric reducing power). The samples were analysed fresh and after 4-years of storage (at 25 °C and protected from light). The hydroxymethylfurfural content and diastase activity of the fresh samples were in accordance with the recommended values described in the legislation. In general, the antioxidant activity of the samples correlated more with the bioactive compounds content than with colour. The storage affected differently each individual sample, especially regarding the antioxidant profile. Nevertheless, although in general the lightness of the samples decreased (and the redness increased), after 4 years, 11 samples still presented acceptable diastase activity and hydroxymethylfurfural values.
Highlights
Honey is a natural substance produced by honey bees, being part of the human diet since ancient times
The production regions included the North and Centre of Portugal, areas highly recognized for their production of high quality honey (Vila Real, Bragança, Chaves, Boticas, Lousã, Penamacor, Guarda, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, and Viseu)
It is expected that a honey of high quality will present a high Diastase Activity (DA) and a low HMF content
Summary
Honey is a natural substance produced by honey bees, being part of the human diet since ancient times. It is produced from the nectar or secretions of living parts of plants, or from the excretions of plant-sucking insects, collected and transformed by bees, deposited, dehydrated and stored in honeycombs [1]. Honey is essentially composed by different sugars (mainly fructose and glucose) and water. It contains several other minor components such as proteins, free amino acids, minerals, enzymes, vitamins, organic acids and phenolic compounds [2]. Several studies were performed to investigate its medicinal properties such as antibacterial and antifungal, gastro and hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant [6,7,8,9,10] and its use for oncological care [11]
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