Antioxidative and antibacterial properties of honey from Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2022-04
Authors
Sakač, Marijana 
Jovanov, Pavle
Marić, Aleksandar
Novaković, Aleksandra
Plavšić, Dragana
Škrobot, Dubravka
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Honey is a natural sweetener produced by honeybees using nectar. It has been used not only for food,
but also for therapeutic purposes. Carbohydrates, primarily glucose and fructose (85-95%), dominate in
honey composition. In addition to sugars, honey contains about 200 substances present in small
amounts, including minerals, proteins, enzymes, amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, polyphenols and
other phytochemicals.
The type of honey is determined by the type of pollen, i.e. nectar, insect secretions, as well as climatic
conditions and soil composition.
The health benefits of honey, used for centuries for therapeutic purposes, derive from its antioxidant
nature, antimicrobial and antiproliferative activity.
The antioxidant capacity of honey primarily depends on the phenolic profile of honey, which is
conditioned by botanical and geographical variations. The antibacterial activity of honey results from
the high osmolarity and acidity of honey, as well as the presence of hydrogen peroxide and phenolic
compounds.
With the aim to assess the antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity of different types of honey
characteristic for the region, nineteen samples (acacia, linden, heather, sunflower, phacelia, basil, anise,
sage, chestnut, hawthorn, buckwheat, lavender and meadow) were collected from different locations in
the Republic of Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina and examined. Honey samples were also
tested for physicochemical parameters (moisture, pH value, electrical conductivity, free acidity and
HMF) to ensure that they meet the requirements for honey quality.
Based on the obtained results of honey physicochemical profile, it was concluded that all tested
samples were in accordance with the regulations of national and EU regulations.
The antioxidant potential of honey samples was assessed by determining the total phenol content (TPC)
and evaluating the antiradical activity on diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH·).
The highest phenol content was found in basil honey (101 ± 2.72 mg GAE/100 g), while the lowest was
registered in rapeseed honey (11.5 ± 0.70 mg GAE /100 g). Samples of heather, anise, phacelia, sage,
chestnut and lavender honey were also rich in TP (80–100 mg GAE/100 g). Scavenging activity on
DPPH· varied among samples and was highest for lavender honey (IC50 = 88.2 ± 2.11 mg/mL) and
lowest for rapeseed honey (IC50 = 646 ± 8.72 mg/mL).
Antibacterial activity was estimated in vitro using agar diffusion tests and measuring minimal
inhibitory concentration (MIC). Among investigated bacterial strains following resistant potencies were
determined: E. coli > E. coli ATCC 8739 > E. faecalis > Proteus mirabilis > S. aureus > S.
epidermidis. The linden honey from Fruška Gora (MIC values of 3.12% and 6.25% against S. aureus
and S. epidermidis, respectively) and phacelia honey (MIC values of 6.25% and 3.12% against S.
aureus and S. epidermidis, respectively) showed the strongest antibacterial activity.
Description
This data represents a poster presentation at XXXIV Scientific-Professional Conference with international participation - Processing and Energy in Agriculture - PTEP 2022, 3-8 April, Sokobanja, Serbia.
Keywords
honey, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity
Citation
Sakač, M., Jovanov, P., Marić, A., Novaković, A., Plavšić, D., Škrobot, D. (2022). Antioxidative and antibacterial properties of honey from Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. XXXIV Scientific-Professional Conference with international participation - Processing and Energy in Agriculture - PTEP 2022, 3-8 April, Sokobanja, Serbia, Book of Abstracts p. 86–87.