PHYSICO-BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOACTIVE PROPERTIES OF HONEY SAMPLES FROM SOUTHERN INDIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Honey is a natural sweet material produced by honey bees, from the nectars of plant flowers and honey dew. The present study was designed to evaluate physico-biochemical and bioactive properties of honey from southern India. In this study, 40 different honey samples were obtained from southern India such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, ten samples from each region were collected respectively. The study showed that the color of the honeys is exceedingly variable such as amber, dark amber, light amber and white. The physical properties density, moisture, total biochemical properties values were found in Kerala honey, which has minimum level of reducing sugar. The antioxidant property of hydroxyl scavenging activity was detected highest in Kerala honey sample than the other analyzed honey samples. Yet, the results suggest that Southern India honeys could be beneficially used as a functional or nutraceutical substance as they prevent or moderate oxidative stress-related diseases.