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Abstract

Honey possesses a wide range of medicinal properties due to presence of phytochemicals including flavonoids and phenolic acids. Free radicals and process of angiogenesis are one of the major contributors to cancer development and the use of phytoconstituents as reactive oxygen species scavengers and as an antiangiogenic moiety has clinical potential and may be having less negative side effects than the existing drugs. This study has explored the phyto-constituents as well as anti-angiogenic and anti-oxidant activity of Indian honey (Kashmir honey and dhanwantari honey) in comparison with manuka honey. The total phenolic content was measured by folin ciocalteau method and antioxidant activity was estimated by DPPH scavenging assay. Anti-angiogenic activity of honey samples were evaluated by chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Drabkin's assay was performed in order to check the hemoglobin content of the chorioallantoic membrane sections. Presence of flavonoids and tannins were observed in all honey samples. Higher total phenolic content was found in kashmir honey (6662.67 mg GAE /100 gm honey) than manuka honey (6078.67 mg GAE /100 gm honey) followed by dhanwantari honey (2286 mg GAE /100 gm honey). Kashmir honey (IC 50 = 5.8+13.03 mg/ml) showed most potent anti-oxidant activity followed by manuka honey (IC 50 = 9.1+3.00 mg/ml) and dhanwantari honey (IC 50 =12.3+2.75 mg/ml). All three honey samples showed a dose dependent anti-angiogenic potential in chick embryo model which was then confirmed by dose dependent decrease of hemoglobin observed in drabkin's assay. Thus, we conclude that, among these three honey samples, kashmir honey is more potent anti-angiogenic and antioxidan.