title: Phenolic acid composition, antiatherogenic and anticancer potential of honeys derived from various regions in Greece.
abstract: The phenolic acid profile of honey depends greatly on its botanical and geographical origin. In this study, we carried out a quantitative analysis of phenolic acids in the ethyl acetate extract of 12 honeys collected from various regions in Greece. Our findings indicate that protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid are the major phenolic acids of the honeys examined. Conifer tree honey (from pine and fir) contained significantly higher concentrations of protocatechuic and caffeic acid (mean: 6640 and 397 µg/kg honey respectively) than thyme and citrus honey (mean of protocatechuic and caffeic acid: 437.6 and 116 µg/kg honey respectively). p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was the dominant compound in thyme honeys (mean: 1252.5 µg/kg honey). We further examined the antioxidant potential (ORAC assay) of the extracts, their ability to influence viability of prostate cancer (PC-3) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells as well as their lowering effect on TNF- α-induced adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells (HAEC). ORAC values of Greek honeys ranged from 415 to 2129 µmol Trolox equivalent/kg honey and correlated significantly with their content in protocatechuic acid (p<0.001), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (p<0.01), vanillic acid (p<0.05), caffeic acid (p<0.01), p-coumaric acid (p<0.001) and their total phenolic content (p<0.001). Honey extracts reduced significantly the viability of PC-3 and MCF-7 cells as well as the expression of adhesion molecules in HAEC. Importantly, vanillic acid content correlated significantly with anticancer activity in PC-3 and MCF-7 cells (p<0.01, p<0.05 respectively). Protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid and total phenolic content correlated significantly with the inhibition of VCAM-1 expression (p<0.05, p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). In conclusion, Greek honeys are rich in phenolic acids, in particular protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acid and exhibit significant antioxidant, anticancer and antiatherogenic activities which may be attributed, at least in part, to their phenolic acid content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spilioti
authors.affiliation: CEMIS-Oulu, Kajaani University Consortium, University of Oulu, Sotkamo, Finland.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaakkola
authors.affiliation: CEMIS-Oulu, Kajaani University Consortium, University of Oulu, Sotkamo, Finland.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolonen
authors.affiliation: CEMIS-Oulu, Kajaani University Consortium, University of Oulu, Sotkamo, Finland.
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipponen
authors.affiliation: CEMIS-Oulu, Kajaani University Consortium, University of Oulu, Sotkamo, Finland.
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Virtanen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, Department of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chinou
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karabournioti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moutsatsou
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D006115:Greece; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000032:analysis*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012015:Reference Standards; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002241:Carbohydrates; D005609:Free Radicals; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C008046:5-hydroxymethylfurfural; D005662:Furaldehyde; C017616:phenolic acid; D010100:Oxygen
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