Evaluation of the generation of reactive oxygen species and antibacterial activity of honey as a function of its phenolic and mineral composition

• Published in: Food chemistry 2023-11, Vol.426, p.136561-136561, Article 136561
• Main Authors: Faúndez, Ximena, Báez, María E., Martínez, Jessica, Zúñiga-López, María C., Espinoza, Jeannette, Fuentes, Edwar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial activity; antibacterial properties; Chile; chrysin; food chemistry; gallic acid; Honey; kaempferol; Mineral composition; mineral content; Multivariate regression; p-coumaric acid; Phenolic profile; polyphenols; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; quercetin; Reactive oxygen species; Staphylococcus epidermidis
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136561

•The relationships among ROS, antibacterial activity and phenolic-mineral composition of honey were evaluated.•Gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, chrysin, kaempferol, Fe, and Mn stimulate ROS generation.•Polyphenols showed a group rather than individual effect on the antibacterial activity of honey.•H2O2 and phenolic content are closely related to the antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis.•P. aeruginosa is less susceptible to ROS produced by honey than S. epidermidis. The antibacterial activity (ABA) of honey is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), where polyphenols (PFs) play a key role due to their pro-oxidant action modulated by metallic cations. In this work, the contents of PFs, H2O2, OH radicals, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and ABA against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were determined in honeys from central Chile. Then, their relationships were evaluated through partial least squares regression. The average contents of phenolic acids, flavonoids and metals in honey ranged from 0.4 to 4 μg/g, 0.3–1.5 μg/g and 3–6 μg/g, respectively. All honeys showed accumulation of H2O2 (1–35 μg/g) and OH radicals. The PLS showed that gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, chrysin, kaempferol, Fe, and Mn stimulate the generation of ROS. Quercetin, Cu, and Zn showed marginal antioxidant effects. PFs favor the ABA of honey against both bacteria and H2O2 against S. epidermidis.