Chemical Analyses and Antimicrobial Activity of Nine Kinds of Unifloral Chinese Honeys Compared to Manuka Honey (12+ and 20+)

Abstract

Honey has good antimicrobial properties and can be used for medical treatment. The antimicrobial properties of unifloral honey varieties are different. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of nine kinds of Chinese monofloral honeys. In addition, headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) technology was used to detect their volatile components. The relevant results are as follows: 1. The agar diffusion test showed that the diameter of inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus of Fennel honey (21.50 ± 0.41 mm), Agastache honey (20.74 ± 0.37 mm), and Pomegranate honey (18.16 ± 0.11 mm) was larger than that of Manuka 12+ honey (14.27 ± 0.10 mm) and Manuka 20+ honey (16.52 ± 0.12 mm). The antimicrobial activity of Chinese honey depends on hydrogen peroxide. 2. The total antioxidant capacity of Fennel honey, Agastache honey, and Pomegranate honey was higher than that of other Chinese honeys. There was a significant positive correlation between the total antioxidant capacity and the total phenol content of Chinese honey (r = 0.958). The correlation coefficient between the chroma value of Chinese honey and the total antioxidant and the diameter of inhibition zone was 0.940 and 0.746, respectively. The analyzed dark honeys had better antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. 3. There were significant differences in volatile components among Fennel honey, Agastache honey, Pomegranate honey, and Manuka honey. Hexanal-D and Heptanol were the characteristic components of Fennel honey and Pomegranate honey, respectively. Ethyl 2-methylbutyrate and 3-methylpentanoic acids were the unique compounds of Agastache honey. The flavor fingerprints of the honey samples from different plants can be successfully built using HS-GC-IMS and principal component analysis (PCA) based on their volatile compounds. Fennel honey, Agastache honey, and Pomegranate honey are Chinese honey varieties with excellent antimicrobial properties, and have the potential to be developed into medical grade honey.

Amyloid β-but not Tau-induced neurotoxicity is suppressed by Manuka honeyviaHSP-16.2 and SKN-1/Nrf2 pathways in anin vivomodel of Alzheimer's disease

“…Regarding the TPC and TFC, the values obtained (0.47 ± 0.03 mg GAE g −1 and 0.05 ± 0.01 mg CAE g −1 , respectively) were slightly lower than those reported by Y.-Z. Zhang et al, 43 Gośliński et al, 44 Marshall et al, 45 and Anand et al 46 However, the TAC values (2.65 ± 0.10 μM TE g −1 by FRAP; 1.40 ± 0.13 μM TE g −1 by TEAC and 4.58 ± 0.22 μM TE g −1 by DPPH) were quite similar to those reported by Sadia Afrin et al 10 and Marshall et al 45 Besides that, 100 mg mL −1 MH did not show short term toxicity in the C. elegans nematodes as demonstrated by the results of the lethality, pharyngeal pumping and egg-laying (fertility) assays. Next, we also evaluated the effects of MH against AAPH-induced oxidative stress, since multiple lines of evidence indicate that ROS overproduction and consequently, an oxidative stress escalation, not only contributes to the aging process 4,47 but is also one of the main factors involved in the initiation and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.…”

“…Regarding the TPC and TFC, the values obtained (0.47 ± 0.03 mg GAE g −1 and 0.05 ± 0.01 mg CAE g −1 , respectively) were slightly lower than those reported by Y.-Z. Zhang et al , 43 Gośliński et al , 44 Marshall et al , 45 and Anand et al 46 However, the TAC values (2.65 ± 0.10 μM TE g −1 by FRAP; 1.40 ± 0.13 μM TE g −1 by TEAC and 4.58 ± 0.22 μM TE g −1 by DPPH) were quite similar to those reported by Sadia Afrin et al 10 and Marshall et al 45…”

Characterizing the Volatile and Sensory Profiles, and Sugar Content of Beeswax, Beebread, Bee Pollen, and Honey

“…In Polish honey, we did not detect volatiles from ketone, pyrazine, ether, and terpene groups, but were identified compounds from groups of: Monoterpenes, disulfides, and furans, which were not detected in the Chinese samples. Moreover, the other research also showed more volatiles (60) detected in unifloral Chinese kinds of honey [ 35 ].…”

Investigation of the Maturity Evaluation Indicator of Honey in Natural Ripening Process: The Case of Rape Honey

“…Then, we took a comb honey box on the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 16 days, and calculated the capping ratio of comb honey. We mixed the honey samples of the same ripening day in 5 bee colonies into one sample, and the botanical origin of honey was assessed by the beekeepers and then confirmed by melissopalynological analysis [17].…”

“…The determination of TFC was achieved as described in Zhang et al [17] and Tang et al [26] with the following modifications: 1 mL honey solution (0.2 g/mL) was mixed with 0.3 mL NaNO 2 (15 g/100 mL). At 6 min and 12 min, 0.3 mL Al(NO 3 ) 3 (10%) and 4 mL NaOH (1 M) were added, respectively.…”