Physicochemical properties, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of the honey samples from the Herzegovina region

Honey is a natural product that is an excellent source of energy containing mainly carbohydrates and water, as well as small amounts of organic acids, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and enzymes. Due to the presence of bioactive compounds, it has been shown that honey is beneficial for many diseases, e.g. gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases, cancer, heart diseases, and neurological degeneration. The study of the physical and chemical properties of honey and the content of bioactive compounds has been increasingly applied in order to determine the quality of honey samples. The aim of this study is to investigate physicochemical properties as well as the total phenol content and antioxidant activity of seven multifloral honey samples from the Herzegovina region. Physicochemical parameters determined in the honey samples (moisture, acidity, electrical conductivity, reducing sugars, sucrose, and insoluble matter) were within the quality standard limits of the Regulation on methods for control of honey and other bee products. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and it ranged from 46.98 ± 6.36 to 152.94 ± 4.95 mg GAE/100 g of honey. To determine the antioxidant activity of the honey samples, two methods, FRAP and ABTS, were used. The total phenolic content of honey correlated positively with its antioxidant activity.