A New Approach for Indexing Honey for Its Heath/Medicinal Benefits: Visualization of the Concept by Indexing Based on Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities

Abstract

Background: The goals of the current study were to address a new concept termed a health benefits’ index (HBI) and to verify the type of correlation between the pricing of honey and its HBI/medicinal properties. Diverse types of honey from different origins and places were investigated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Methods: We have utilized a modified protocol of the DPPH assay for measuring free radical scavenging and the microdilution test for the determination of antibacterial/antifungal minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). MICs were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Candida albicans microorganisms. Employing a “combined benefits approach” enabled us to attach to each honey type a unique number of HBI that correlate with honey health and medicinal values. Results: The various types of honey demonstrated significant but variable antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Types of wildflower-labeled honey were found to have a wide range of HBI values and medicinal properties, probably due to their containing different nectar contents/phytochemicals. Moreover, an inconsiderable correlation was detected between the market prices of different types of honey and their HBIs. Conclusions: The proposed index of health benefits could be recalculated/updated following measurement of more and more medicinal properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. This index could be used as an effective tool for consumers of honey to evaluate the real value of the purchased product.

Botanical Origin, Pollen Profile, and Physicochemical Properties of Algerian Honey from Different Bioclimatic Areas

“…The samples had light amber color, mean electrical conductivity of 0.535 mS/cm, high pH, and medium polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Sedra honey is more known than other monofloral honey types, as consumers appreciate them much due to healthy properties attributed to them [ 53 ]. The characteristics of the honey type are in accordance with the results of other publications [ 19 , 29 ].…”

Inhibitory Effects of Ethyl Gallate on Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation by Optical Profilometry and Gene Expression Analysis

“…Infections caused by resistant bacteria are currently on the rise and, hence, are considered a genuine health threat [17,18]. Natural plants and dark fruits are rich in antibacterial phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, and researchers are becoming more interested in isolating their secondary metabolites to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, especially streptococci.…”

Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities of Wild Scolymus maculatus L.

“…Plant-based nutrients and natural products have long been considered to be linked with human health and even evidenced to reduce risks of chronic human illnesses, such as inflammation [1,2,3], diabetes [4], cancer [5,6], and microbial-related diseases [7,8,9,10,11]. To date, herbal medicine is widely practiced in Palestine [12].…”