[Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of East Black Sea Region honeys]

Abstract

Objective: Honey possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Many chronic diseases are associated with increased oxidative stress caused by an imbalance between free-radical production and the antioxidant level. For that purpose, the total phenolic contents, antioxidant potentials and antimicrobial activities of nine honey samples obtained from East Black Sea Region was investigated.

Methods: The average phenolic contents for honey samples obtained from East Black Sea Region was determined according to Folin-Ciocalteu method. For evaluation of the antioxidant activity three different methods were used, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assay. The antimicrobial activity was studied by the disc diffusion method, using ten bacteria and three yeasts.

Results: The average phenolic content for these samples was determined as 0.224 mg gallic acid equivalents per g honey. According to FRAP assay, antioxidative activity of honeys was between 0.973 and 9.053 mu mol FeSO4.7H2O/g. But the average CUPRAC activity was found as 7.815 mol Trolox/g honey. IC50 values were found as between 29.388 and 458.450 mg/mL at the end of DPPH radical scavenging activity assay. The samples showed moderate antimicrobial activity against many microorganisms.

Conclusion: All the analyzed East Black Sea Region honey samples demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial activity level can be considered effective.