Phenolic compounds, melissopalynological, physicochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of jandaira (Melipona subnitida) honey

Profile of phenolic compounds, melissopalynological, physicochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of Melipona subnitida honeys from Brazil are presented. The constituents in the EtOAc fraction were identified by HPLC-DAD. The melissopalynological analysis showed 19 pollen types, from 9 families. Mimosa caesalpiniifolia was the predominant pollen type in 8 of the 9 honey samples. The physicochemical analysis revealed that the samples showed a similar profile. All jandaira honey samples had similar characteristic profile of phenolic compounds, strong antioxidant activity accompanied by high total polyphenol contents. The flavonoids naringenin, quercetin, and isorhamnetin along with gallic, vanillic, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic, and cumaric acids are common to eight samples and were adequately quantified. The two isomers of abscisic acid (trans-trans and cis-trans) present in major quantity in the sample 9 were isolated and quantified in all samples. The antioxidant activity of the honey samples strongly correlated with their phenolic content. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.