title: Profile of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (nitrate, nitrite and N-nitroso groups) in honeys of different botanical origins: nitrate accumulation as index of origin, quality and of therapeutic opportunities.
abstract: Besides dermoprotective activity, honey also has a strong gastroprotective effect, from salivary reduction of nitrate (NO(3)(-)) to nitrite (NO(2)(-)) and intragastric formation of nitric oxide (NO), this lastly involved in the preservation of the gastric mucosa capillaries and in boosting mucous production. Aim of this work is to profile the distribution of NO metabolites (NO(3)(-), NO(2)(-) and total N-nitroso-groups, N-NO) in a set of honeys (n=54) of different botanical origins, using a chemiluminescence based technique (NO-analyzer, NOA). All the honeys contained appreciable amounts of NO(3)(-) (from 1.63+/-0.04 to 482.98+/-5.34 mg/kg), the highest in honeydew honeys (10-40 times than in nectar honeys). Low levels of NO(2)(-) were found in all samples (0.01+/-0.00 to 0.56+/-0.01 mg/kg). N-NO groups, at trace levels in some nectar honeys, were higher in honeydew samples (from 0.01+/-0.00 to 0.29+/-0.01 mg/kg). Total phenol content (TP) and total protein (TProt) were comparable to those in literature. Multivariate analysis indicated that N-NO groups were significantly associated with NO(2)(-) and TP thus to suggest an in situ environmental nitrosation of specific nitrosable substrates (lysine, proline) favored by high reducing conditions. The bee-smoking process can be an alternative or complementary explanation for N-NO contamination. Hence NO(3)(-) rich honeys intake may exert beneficial effects against NSAIDs-induced gastric injury. Finally NO(3)(-) is a potential reliable marker of a honey's origin and quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Pietro Pratesi, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Milan, via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy. giangiacomo.beretta@unimi.it
authors.forename: Giangiacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beretta
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gelmini
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lodi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piazzalunga
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maffei Facino
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis*; D009603:Nitroso Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009603:Nitroso Compounds