Honey with added value – enriched with rutin and quercetin from Sophora flower

• Published in: Journal of herbal medicine 2022-07, Vol.34, p.100580, Article 100580
• Main Authors: Đorđević, Sofija, Nedić, Nebojša, Pavlović, Aleksandra, Milojković-Opsenica, Dušanka, Tešić, Živoslav, Gašić, Uroš
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Honey; HPLC; Quercetin; Rutin; Sophora honey; Sophora japonica
• ISSN: 2210-8033
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100580

The aim of this study was to find the best conditions for the extraction of rutin and quercetin from Sophora flower in acacia honey as an extractant, and to formulate a new product – honey with added value. For determination of the optimal extraction conditions of the above mentioned compounds, 10% m/m of the dried Sophora flower was added to honey and the concentration of rutin and quercetin was monitored, at 4 °C and room temperature at 1, 15, 40 and 90 day intervals. The analyses of rutin and quercetin content in honey were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The content of rutin and quercetin in the flower was also determined to check the quality of the herbal drug used, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the extraction. The extraction of rutin and quercetin, in a honey sample using 10% of the Sophora flower, stored at room temperature, for 40 days, was the most intense one (150.24 mg/kg of rutin and 1338.93 mg/kg of quercetin). Sophora flower corresponds to the pharmacopoeia requirements for the quality of an herbal drug. The concentrations of rutin and quercetin in acacia honey were 0.08 and 0.14 mg/kg, respectively. The concentration of rutin in honey from the melliferous pasture of the Sophora flower was 0.40 mg/kg, while quercetin was below the detection limit (0.1 mg/kg). Honey, enriched with rutin and quercetin from Sophora flower, had sensory acceptability and pleasant taste and aroma. [Display omitted] •Honey enriched with Sophora flower is a mixture of two exceptional gifts of nature.•The best way for extraction of rutin and quercetin from honey with Sophora flowers.•Sample with 10% of the flower, stored at room t, for 40 days, was the most intense.•Honey enriched with rutin and quercetin had and pleasant taste and aroma.