Determination of Color, Phenolic Acid, Flavonoid and Antioxidant Capacity of Honey Samples from Western Ghats of Maharashtra

Abstract

Objective:  The aims of this study were to quantitatively analyze the color intensity, phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant properties of honey samples collected from different regions OF Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Also to describe the relationship between these parameters using Pearson's correlation and determined how these parameters can differentiate between various honey types.

Experimental: Honey samples from five distinct locations of Maharashtra's Western Ghats were examined for activity. The Pfund technique was total phenolic and flavonoid content, colour, and antioxidant used to determine colour, the aluminium chloride method for flavonoids, the Folin-Ciocalteu method for phenolic assessment, and the DPPH assay for antioxidants.

Results: The colour findings found varied from 164 to 280mm Pfund, flavonoid 0.0020-0.0215 mg/ml, and phenols 0.07-0.233 mg/ml. Antioxidant activity was tested using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavengers, and the IC50 varied from 16 to 29 g/ml. Statistical research revealed that there were positive associations between colour intensity, flavonoid concentration, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity.

Discussion:  The colour findings were 164-280mm Pfund, flavonoids 0.0020-0.0215 mg/ml, phenols 0.07-0.233 mg/ml, and antioxidant activity 16-29 g/ml. Honey's complex makeup, interactions between diverse antioxidant chemicals, and possible synergistic linkages between them can all play a role in overall antioxidant capacity.

Conclusion: This is the first study classifying color, flavonoids, phenolics and antioxidants properties of Western Maharashtra honey. These parameters varied in different types of honey, where some honey sample was the richest in color, flavonoids, phenolics and antioxidants among other samples. A strong correlation was observed between the color, flavonoids, phenolics and antioxidants of honey. We can conclude that Sumer honey was the best among the analyzed samples in terms of high color, phenolics and antioxidants.