Characterisation of the total phenolic, vitamins C and E content and antioxidant properties of the beebread and honey from the same batch

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant and reducing activity, as well as vitamin C and E content in beebread and honey. The antioxidant activity of samples was determined by photochemiluminescence (PCL) assay, while reducing potential was measured using FRAP and ORAC assays. Vitamin C was analysed by HPLC-MS-TripleTOF method and vitamin E by HPLC-DAD. Beebread was characterised by the higher level of the total phenolic (~90%), flavonoid (~97%), vitamin C (~99%) and E (~98%) as compared to the honey. The data showed that beebread had also higher values of antioxidant activity and reducing potential by ~99% and ~41-98%, respectively, than honey. Our findings indicate that beebread is valuable source of bioactive substances, with the high beneficial properties.

Keywords

• antioxidant status
• ascorbic acid
• bee products
• lipid-soluble antioxidants
• phenolics and flavonoids
• reducing capacity