title: Antimicrobial, antiviral and antioxidant activities of "água-mel" from Portugal.
abstract: "Água-mel" is a honey-based product produced in Portugal for ancient times. Several attributes have been reported to "água-mel" particularly in the alleviation of simple symptoms of upper respiratory tract. Samples of "água-mel" from diverse beekeepers from different regions of Portugal were studied in what concerns antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiviral properties. The amounts of phenol and brown pigment were also evaluated and correlated with the antioxidant activities. A great variability on the levels of these compounds was found among samples which were responsible for the variability detected also on the antioxidant activities, independent on the method used. Generally, antioxidant activity correlated better with brown pigments' amount than with phenols' content. The antimicrobial activity found for "água-mel" samples confirm the virtues reported by popular findings. In addition, this work also reveals the antiviral properties of "água-mel" evidenced by a decrease on the infectivity of the Qβ bacteriophage.
authors: Universidade do Algarve, IBB-Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Edif. 8, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. mgmiguel@ualg.pt
authors: Maria G
authors: MG
authors: Miguel
authors: Leonor
authors: L
authors: Faleiro
authors: Maria D
authors: MD
authors: Antunes
authors: Smail
authors: S
authors: Aazza
authors: Joana
authors: J
authors: Duarte
authors: Ana R
authors: AR
authors: Silvério
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000032:analysis; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D015416:Maillard Reaction; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis; D011174:Portugal; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D011108:Polymers; D059808:Polyphenols; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C011908:melanoidin polymers; C002502:2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide