Indian Honey Research Articles

Abstract A52: Characterization of Indian honey and its anticancerous activity against colon cancer

Abstract Four multifloral honey types from different Indian origin (named as Samples A, B, C and D) were analyzed for their phenolic acids using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC-Mass Spectroscopy analysis revealed that dihydroxy benzoic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and cinnamic acid were the major phenolic acid constituents of the tested honey. The total antioxidant potential and free radical scavenging ability varied among the honey samples and exhibited a significant correlation with their phenolic content. Further the honey samples were studied for rheology and thermal properties. Controlled shear rate viscometry indicated the Newtonian behavior (a drop in the viscosity as the temperature increases) in the honey samples. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed the inflection transition temperature (Tg) of the honey samples ranged between - 51.40 °C to −30.64 °C. Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed that the honey samples containing higher phenolic content showed significant antiproliferative effect against colon cancer cells. From the abovesaid experiments, Sample C among the four was found to be better based on its phenolic, antioxidant and antiproliferative effects and chosen for further studies. Honey induced the apoptotic signal via initial depletion of intracellular non protein thiols, consequently reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. P53 up-regulation and modulation of pro and antiapoptotic proteins were observed in the honey induced apoptosis. The work was extended further to study the constituents of honey that induced apoptosis. For this, we screened the antiproliferative effect of some reported phenolic constituents namely p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid and eugenol in colon cancer cells. We had selected eugenol based on their better antiproliferative nature and elucidated the mechanism. Eugenol treatment resulted in reduction of intracellular non-protein thiols and increase in the earlier lipid layer break. Further events like dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and generation of ROS were accompanied in the eugenol-induced apoptosis. Finally we had studied the anticancer activity of honey samples (Samples B and C) and eugenol against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. We found that Sample C remarkably inhibited the tumor growth by 40 % compared to Sample B (12.17 %) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma when given 25% v/v intraperitoneally (i/p). We had found eugenol with a dose of 100 mg/Kg showed nearly 29% tumor inhibition. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A52.

Protective effect of Indian honey on acetaminophen induced oxidative stress and liver toxicity in rat

The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of Indian honey on acetaminophen induced oxidative stress and liver damage in rat. Honey serves as a source of natural medicine, which is effective to reducing the risk of heart disease, liver toxicity and inflammatory processes. The hepatoprotective activity of the Indian honey was determined by assessing levels of Serum transaminases, ALP and total bilirubin. Finally, the effects of the test substances on the antioxidant enzymes of the liver were also studied by assessing changes in the level of reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Serum transaminase, ALP and total bilirubin level were significantly elevated and the antioxidant status in liver such as activities of SOD, CAT, GPx and the levels of GSH were declined significantly in APAP alone treated animals. Pretreatment with honey and silymarin prior to the administration of APAP significantly prevented the increase in the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers and reduced oxidative stress. The histopathological evaluation of the livers also revealed that honey reduced the incidence of liver lesions induced by APAP. Results suggest that the Indian honey protects liver against oxidative damage and it could be used as an effective hepatoprotector against APAP induced liver damage.

Physical, biochemical and antioxidant properties of some Indian honeys

The study was intended to characterise the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of some commercial brands of Indian honeys. All the samples showed considerable variations with reference to their level of total phenolics, protein, radical scavenging activity, ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant content (AEAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP). Comparative studies of Indian honeys indicated the strong correlation between proline content and AEAC as well as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity whereas phenol content was strongly correlated with FRAP values. Thus, overall antioxidant activity seems to be contributed by proline and phenol contents. Besides these major factors, colour pigments (ABS 460 ) were also found to contribute significantly to the overall observed antioxidant activity.

Rheology and thermal properties of marketed Indian honey

PurposeCharacterization of honey gathered importance since it has been widely used in both medical and domestic needs. In this fast moving mechanical life, people are bound to buy commercially available honey at markets. The purpose of this paper is to study the physical and thermal properties of such honey.Design/methodology/approachFour well‐known commercial honey samples in the Indian market were analyzed for their color, rheology and thermal properties.FindingsColor of the samples varied from white to light amber according to United States Department of Agriculture method. Rheologies of the samples were studied between 10 and 30°C. Viscosities of samples varied from 1.31 to 96.7 Pa s according to the kind of honey and temperature of measurement. Controlled shear rate viscometry indicated the Newtonian behavior with a drop in viscosity as the temperature increases. Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis indicated the inflection transition temperature (Tg) of the present investigation ranged between –51.40 and –30.64°C. Correlation between the Tg and the viscosity of the samples were significant.Originality/valueThere has been no report available on the Newtonian behavior of the commercial Indian honey samples. This paper will help the consumers to comprehend the standard of the honey sold in the Indian market. Distributors/manufacturers will also be aware of quality of honey, which will help further in the process development, transportation and storage.

Bactericidal Activity of Different Types of Honey against Clinical and Environmental Isolates ofPseudomonas aeruginosa

Honey has had a valued place in traditional medicine for centuries. Renewed interest in honey for various therapeutic purposes, including treatment of infected wounds, has led to the search for different types of honey with antibacterial activity. In this study, we have assessed the antibacterial activity of different types of honey (manuka honey from Australia, heather honey from the United Kingdom, and locally marketed Indian honey). The agar dilution method was used to assess the antibacterial activity of honey against 152 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations. The locally available (khadikraft) honey produced the best activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and was found to be better than all of the imported varieties of therapeutic honey.

Physico-chemical, rheological, calorimetric and dielectric behavior of selected Indian honey

Physico-chemical, thermal, rheological and dielectric characteristics of seven Indian honey samples obtained from various floral sources were investigated. The samples were found to differ from each other in pH, ash content and visual color values. Oscillatory rheology data revealed that viscous component predominates over elastic modulus ( G″ > G′) and some of the honey samples exhibited non-Newtonian behavior with definite yield stress. The inflection glass transition temperature ( T g) of the honey samples varied between −51.14 and −33.64 °C whereas the temperatures of fusion were ranged between 203 and 221 °C. Few cases more than one fusion temperature of honey samples indicated that melting of different sugar components occurred at different temperatures. Both dielectric constant ( ε′) and loss factor ( ε″) of honey samples decreased in general as function of frequency at 20 °C. Dielectric parameters of honey were governed by both moisture and ash content of samples.

Indian Honey: A Natural Product with Antibacterial Activity Against Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens, an in vitro Study

Indian Honey: A Natural Product with Antibacterial Activity Against Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens, an in vitro Study

Reproductive biology of Boswellia serrata, the source of salai guggul, an important gum-resin

Detailed studies were carried out on the phenology, floral biology, pollination ecology and breeding system of Boswellia serrata Roxb. (Burseraceae) the source of ‘salai guggul’. The trees remain leafless during the entire period of flowering and fruiting. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme and produces up to 90 bisexual, actinomorphic flowers. On average a flower produces 10 044 ± 1259 starch-filled pollen grains. About 85% of the fresh pollen grains are viable; the pollen to ovule ratio is 3348 : 1. The stigma is of the wet papillate type. The style is hollow with three flattened stylar canals filled with a secretion product. The stylar canals are bordered by a layer of glandular canal cells. The inner tangential wall of the canal cells shows cellulose thickenings. The ovary is trilocular and bears three ovules, one in each locule. Flowers offer nectar and pollen as rewards to floral visitors. The giant Asian honey bee (Apis dorsata) and A. cerana var. indica(Indian honey bee) are the effective pollinators. The species is self-incompatible and the selfed pollen tubes are inhibited soon after their entry into the stigma. Self-pollen tubes develop a characteristic ‘isthmus’ as a result of enlargement of the tube soon after emergence through the narrow germ pore. Cross-pollinated flowers allowed normal pollen germination and pollen tube growth, and resulted in fruit- and seed-set. Under open pollination fruit-set was only about 10%. Although manual cross-pollinations increased fruit set, it was only up to about 20%. Low fruit set appears to be the result of inadequate cross-pollination and other constraints, presumably limitation of available nutrients. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 147, 73–82.

Sensory and physico-chemical properties of commercial samples of honey

Honey samples that are available commercially, differ in quality on account of various factors like geographical, seasonal and processing conditions, floral source, packaging and storage period. Eleven commercial samples of Indian honey were studied for sensory and physico-chemical properties. Sensory analysis was carried out using quantitative descriptive analysis method. Moisture content varied from 17 to 22.6%, °Brix from 76 to 81.5%, pH from 3.62 to 5.46, apparent viscosity from 1.79 to 13.8 Pascal sec, acidity from 0.03 to 0.15%, total reducing sugars from 61.3 to 72.6% and sucrose from 1.2 to 5.7%. Colour parameters namely L ∗ a ∗ b ∗ were measured and a ∗ was found to be an important variable in grouping the samples. Principal component analysis was performed on sensory and physico-chemical variables for analysing the relationship among groups of variables, and grouping the samples in the multidimensional space. The dominant quality attributes for the groups are discussed in relation to the directional vectors. The important sensory parameters selected by the multivariate program, which grouped the samples were flowery, fruity, waxy, jaggery-like, chemical and caramelised notes while the physico-chemical parameters were viscosity, a ∗, percentage acidity and sucrose content.

Quality evaluation of different types of Indian honey

Chemical composition, flow behaviour indices and overall acceptability of the most popular types of honey produced in India were investigated. Trifolium honey showed the highest specific gravity, diastatic number, total acidity, free fatty acids content, consistency coefficient and overall acceptability. However, Eucalyptus lanceolatus honey showed the highest value for lactone and conductivity. Linear regression models for the formation of HMF as a function of time at different temperatures showed that Trifolium honey had fastest rate of HMF formation followed by Eucalyptus lanceolatus and Brassica juncea honey.

Metabolism of endosulfan in the Indian honey bee

Metabolism of topical endosulfan in the Indian honey bee,Apis cerana indica F., was studied. The two endosulfan isomers were found to be interconvertible in bees. The products of metabolism were endosulfan sulfate, diol, ether, hydroxyether, lactone and two unknown compounds. Endosulfan diol, hydroxyether and lactone were found to be conjugated in excreta of the treated bees.

Some Correlations in the Appendages of the Indian Honey Bee.

That variations in honey bees are displayed not only in the average dimensions of their various appendages, but in the coefficients of correlations between such measurements as well, was indicated by Alpatov (1929). In the present paper are furnished the coefficients of correlation of the measurements of tongue, right forewing and right hind leg of four colonies of Apis indica, the variations in the biometry of which were reported previously (Ratnam, 1939). The data used for the present paper are the same as those used for the previous one."

THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ENZYME CONTENT OF INDIAN HONEY

Figures for the composition of honey commonly used in other countries are known, but there is no information available regarding the composition of Indian honeys. The present investigation was, therefore, undertaken as a preliminary step towards the analysis of Indian honey samples, for the pur- pose of purity determinations in order to set standards by which the purity of honey could readily be ascertained. The study of the analysis of the honey samples has now been made by the most reliable methods which can be obtained. Sucrose, levulose and glucose have each been determined separately. Since these are the only carbohydrates which are absorbed as sugars from the gut, their sum consti- tutes the available carbohydrates of honey.