Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radical-scavenging Activity, Protective Effect Against Lipid Peroxidation and Mineral Contents of Monofloral Cuban Honeys

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Several monofloral Cuban honeys were analyzed to determine their free radical-scavenging activity and from this the total antioxidant content was estimated. The protective effect against lipid peroxidation in an in vitro model of rat liver homogenates was evaluated and, lastly, the mineral content of the honeys, which can be related to the maintenance of intracellular oxidative balance, was determined. The scavenging capacities against hydroxyl and superoxide radicals were determined using the spin-trapping technique and the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assay, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated through the production of TBARS and hydroperoxides. All honeys tested showed potential antioxidant activity with Linen vine displaying the highest scavenging capacity towards the DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, while the least efficient was Christmas vine honey. Honeys also inhibited, in a concentration-dependent mode, lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenates, with Linen vine resulting the best while the least effective was Christmas vine honey. The ability to scavenge free radicals and protect against lipid peroxidation may contribute to the ability of certain Cuban honeys to help in preventing/reducing some inflammatory diseases in which oxidative stress is involved. A total of eight minerals were identified and quantified as follows: cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, iron, manganese, lead, and zinc. Minerals found in higher concentrations were iron, zinc and manganese.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AA:

Antioxidant Activity

AEAC:

Ascorbic Acid Equivalent Antioxidant Content

EPR:

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

MCH:

Monofloral Cuban Honey

QEAC:

Quercetin Equivalent Antioxidant Content

RSA:

Radical Scavenging Activity

TBARS:

Thiobarbituric Reactive Substances

RLH:

Rat Liver Homogenate

References

  1. Alvarez-Suarez JM, Tulipani S, Romandini S, Bertoli E, Battino M (2010) Contribution of honey in nutrition and human health: A review. Mediterr J Nutr Metab 3:15–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cooper RA, Molan PC, Harding KG (1999) Antibacterial activity of honey against strains of Staphylococcus aureus from infected wounds. J R Soc Med 92:283–285

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. French VM, Cooper RM, Molan PC (2005) The antibacterial activity of honey against coagulase-negative staphylococci. J Antimicrob Chemother 56:228–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Dröge W (2000) Free radicals in the physiological control of cell function. Physiol Rev 82:47–95

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pérez-Jiménez J, Serrano J, Tabernero M, Arranz S, Díaz-Rubio ME, García-Diz L, Goñi I, Saura-Calixto F (2009) Bioavailability of phenolic antioxidants associated with dietary fiber: Plasma antioxidant capacity after acute and long-term intake in human. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 64:102–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gheldof N, Engeseth NJ (2002) Antioxidant capacity of honeys from various floral sources based on the determination of oxygen radical absorbance capacity and inhibition of in vitro lipoprotein oxidation in human serum samples. J Agric Food Chem 50:3050–3055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gheldof N, Wang XH, Engeseth NJ (2003) Buckwheat honey increases serum antioxidant capacity in humans. J Agric Food Chem 51:1500–1505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Yao LH, Jiang YM, Shi J, Tomas-Barberan FA, Datta N, Singanusong R, Chen SS (2004) Flavonoids in food and their health benefits. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 59:113–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Busserolles J, Gueux E, Rock E, Mazur A, Rayssiguier Y (2002) Substituting honey for refined carbohydrates protects rats from hypertriglyceridemic and prooxidative effects of fructose. J Nutr 132:3379–3382

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Shoham S, Youdim MB (2000) Iron involvement in neural damage and microgliosis in models of neurodegenerative diseases. Cell Mol Biol 46:743–760

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Stohs SJ, Bagchi D (1995) Oxidative mechanisms in the toxicity of metal ions. Free Radic Biol Med 18:321–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Domingo JL (1994) Metal-induced developmental toxicity in mammals: A review. J Toxicol Environ Health 42:123–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Alvarez-Suarez JM, González-Paramás AM, Santos-Buelga C, Battino M (2010) Antioxidant characterization of native monofloral Cuban honeys. J Agric Food Chem 58:9817–9824

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Alvarez-Suarez JM, Tulipani S, Diaz D, Estevez Y, Romandini S, Giampieri F, Damiani E, Astolfi P, Bompadre S, Battino M (2010) Antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity of several monofloral Cuban honeys and their correlation with color, polyphenol content and other chemical compounds. Food Chem Toxicol 48:2490–2499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Louveaux J, Maurizio A, Vorwohl G (1970) Methods of melissopalynology. Bee World 51:125–138

    Google Scholar 

  16. Copper RA, Molan PC, Harding KG (2002) The sensitivity to honey of Gram-positive cocci of clinical significance isolated from wounds. J Appl Microbiol 93:857–863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Velazquez E, Tournier HA, Mordujovich de Buschiazzo P, Saavedra G, Schinella GR (2003) Antioxidant activity of Paraguayan plant extracts. Fitoterapia 74:91–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Meda A, Lamien CE, Romito M, Millogo J, Nacoulma OG (2005) Determination of the total phenolic, flavonoid and proline contents in Burkina Fasan honey, as well as their radical scavenging activity. Food Chem 91:571–577

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Janzen EG (1977) Spin Trapping. Acc Chem Res 4:31–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Buettner GR (1987) Spin Trapping: ESR parameters of spin adduct. Free Rad Biol Med 3:259–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Henriques A, Jacksin S, Coope R, Burton N (2006) Free radical production and quenching in honeys with wound healing potential. J Antimicrob Chemother 58:773–777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Oyanagui Y (1984) Reevaluation of assay methods and establishment of kit for superoxide dismutase activity. Anal Biochem 142:290–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ohkawa H, Ohishi N, Yagi K (1979) Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal Biochem 95:331–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Jiang ZY, Hunt JV, Wolff SP (1992) Ferrous ion oxidation in the presence of xylenol orange for detection of lipid hydroperoxide in low density lipoprotein. Anal Biochem 202:384–389

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Alvarez-Suarez JM, Tulipani S, Romandini S, Vidal A, Battino M (2009) Methodological aspects about determination of phenolic compounds and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant capacity in the honey: A review. Curr Anal Chem 5:292–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Inoue K, Murayama S, Seshimo F, Takeba K, Yoshimura Y, Nakazawa H (2005) Identification of phenolic compound in manuka honey as specific superoxide anion radical scavenger using electron spin resonance (ESR) and liquid chromatography with coulometric array detection. J Sci Food Agric 85:872–878

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kücük M, Kolaylı S, Karaoğlu S, Ulusoy E, Baltacı C, Candan F (2007) Biological activities and chemical composition of three honeys of different types from Anatolia. Food Chem 100:526–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Krishna-Kishorea R, Sukari-Halima A, Nurul-Syazanaa MSK, Sirajudeen NS (2011) Tualang honey has higher phenolic content and greater radical scavenging activity compared with other honey sources. Nutr Res 31:322–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Pérez E, Rodríguez-Malaver AJ, Vit P (2006) Antioxidant capacity of Venezuelan honey in wistar rat homogenates. J Med Food 9:510–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Fernández-Torres R, Pérez-Bernal JL, Bello-López MA, Callejón-Mochón M, Jiménez-Sánchez JC, Guiraúm-Pérez A (2005) Mineral content and botanical origin of Spanish honeys. Talanta 65:686–691

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Tuzen M, Silici S, Mendil D, Soylak M (2005) Trace element levels in honeys from different regions of Turkey. Food Chem 103:325–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Stohs SJ, Bagchi D (1995) Oxidative mechanisms in the toxicity of metal ions. Free Radic Biol Med 18:321–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Characterization Project of Cuban Specific Honey and the Cuban National Center of Apiculture Research for their collaboration.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Biology & Genetics, Medical School, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Ranieri 65, 60100, Ancona, Italy

    José M. Alvarez-Suarez, Francesca Giampieri, Elisabetta Damiani, Daniele Fattorini, Francesco Regoli & Maurizio Battino

  2. ISAC-Chemistry Division, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Ranieri 65, 60100, Ancona, Italy

    Paola Astolfi

  3. Department of Physiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology “José Mataix”, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, 18100, Armilla, Granada, Spain

    José L. Quiles

Authors
  1. José M. Alvarez-Suarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francesca Giampieri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elisabetta Damiani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paola Astolfi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Daniele Fattorini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Francesco Regoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. José L. Quiles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Maurizio Battino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maurizio Battino.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alvarez-Suarez, J.M., Giampieri, F., Damiani, E. et al. Radical-scavenging Activity, Protective Effect Against Lipid Peroxidation and Mineral Contents of Monofloral Cuban Honeys. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 67, 31–38 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-011-0268-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-011-0268-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation