Study of Physicochemical, Biochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Honey Collected from Barshi and Adjoining Area

Honey has played an essential role in traditional medicine during the past few decades. Its biological activities (antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, etc.) depend on its floral or geographic origin. The present study was performed to investigate honey samples collected from different plant sources with respect to physicochemical, biochemical and antioxidant activities. Twelve honey samples from various plant sources and one from market were obtained and analyzed for pH, free acidity, electric conductivity, ash, sugar brix, total carbohydrate, starch, protein, total flavonoids, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activities and type of honey. The physicochemical characteristics of 13 honey samples were reported in present investigation ranged as pH (3.33–5.05), electrical conductivity (1.17–3.80 ns/cm), free acidity (13.3–29.4 meq/kg), ash (318–750 mg/g) and sugar brix (13–25). The biochemical activities of the said honey samples were reported in present investigation ranged as total carbohydrates (364–646 mg/gm), starch (88–420 mg/g), Protein (0.0009–0.0070 mg/g), ascorbic acid (16–76 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (0.029–0.201 mg/g). Antioxidant activity was determined using DMPD assay, ranging from 0.453 to 0.530 μM and by DPPH assay from 0.107 to 0.557 μM equivalent to ascorbic acid. Hierarchical multivariate cluster analysis (HCA) study divided 13 plant sources into five clusters with two major clades with 89.09% similarity on physicochemical and biochemical basis. Considering the medicinal importance and revealed physicochemical, biochemical and antioxidant compounds in honey, present study encouraged popularization of regional honey for establishing the apiary industry. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The National Academy of Sciences, India 2023.