Revealing the key antioxidant compounds and potential action mechanisms of Bauhinina championii honey based on non-targeted metabolomics, mineralogical analysis and physicochemical characterization

Abstract

Bauhinia championii (BC) honey, highly regarded for its functional properties, is popular among consumers and holds significant economic potential, particularly in the food and health industries. However, limited knowledge of the bioactivities, especially its outstanding antioxidant activity, hampers the development of functional products. This study comprehensively compared BC honey's physicochemical properties, elemental composition, metabolic profile, and antioxidant properties with five other honeys. Results revealed that BC honey had a darker color, higher electrical conductivity (335.67 ± 6.81 μS cm⁻¹), and higher levels of minerals and flavonoids. It exhibited stronger radical scavenging activity, with DPPH (96.49 % ± 0.38) and ABTS (2.1593 mM ± 0.014) values. Multivariate analysis suggested that its superior antioxidant properties are likely due to high flavonoid content, particularly 7-O-methylchrysin. This study offers insights into BC honey's antioxidant characteristics and supports its use in functional products.