engleski

Antioxidant activity and physicochemical characteristics of multifloral honey produced in Croatia

Many studies indicated that the antioxidant activity of honey varies widely, depending on the floral source. Antioxidant activities of some unifloral honey produced in Croatia were reported in a few studies, while antioxidant capacity of multifloral honey seems unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity and physicochemical characteristics of multifloral honey produced in Croatia during three different seasons. In 55 samples of multifloral honey, the physicochemical parameters were determined according to International regulatory standards and Croatian legislation. Physicochemical parameters (water content, electrical conductivity, total reducing sugars content, sucrose content, acidity, prolin content, diastase and invertase activity) were determined by standard analytical methods. Phenolics were determined by modified Folin-Ciocalteu method, antiradical activity by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and potential antioxidant activity using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for comparison of the obtained results between three seasons. The results of physicochemical analyses showed that values of investigated parameters lie within the limits set by national and international honey-profiling criteria. Phenolic compounds appear to be responsible for antioxidant capacity of multifloral honey. Multifloral honey samples from season 2007 differ from the honey samples from seasons 2008 and 2009 mainly on the basis of total reducing sugars content and prolin content.

antioxidant activity; honey; physicochemical parameters

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