title: Nutraceutical potential of monofloral honeys produced by the Sicilian black honeybees (Apis mellifera ssp. sicula).
abstract: In the light of the growing interest in food and food products obtained through organic and environmentally friendly techniques, the present work represents the first approach to the evaluation of the biological profile of some Sicilian honeys produced in purity by the local black honeybees. Samples exhibited up to 10 times more total phenolics and higher antioxidant capacity than what already reported for the same variety of honeys produced by other honeybee subspecies from Sicily, other Italian regions and abroad. Noteworthy, the gallic acid contents in medlar and almond honeys represented the highest level of single phenolic acid reported in honey so far. A broad antimicrobial spectrum was showed by all of the honey samples and a good correlation between their inhibition capacity and polyphenolic contents was measured. Experimental results highlighted samples among the honeys characterised by the highest nutraceutical added value and most excellent quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy. giancarlo.tenore@unina.it
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tenore
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ritieni
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campiglia
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Novellino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D044948:Flavonols / Q000032:analysis; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006722:Honey; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010851:Picrates; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D012015:Reference Standards
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D044948:Flavonols; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D059808:Polyphenols; D019163:Reducing Agents; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl