Characterization of Monofloral Honeys with Multivariate Analysis of Their Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity

Various bioactive chemical constituents were quantified for 21 honey samples obtained at Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, Brazil. To evaluate their antioxidant activity, 3 different methods were used: the ferric reducing antioxidant power, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, and the 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin)-6-sulfonate (ABTS) assays. Correlations between the parameters were statistically significant (-0.6684 = r =-0.8410, P < 0.05). Principal component analysis showed that honey samples from the same floral origins had more similar profiles, which made it possible to group the eucalyptus, morrao de candeia, and cambara honey samples in 3 distinct areas, while cluster analysis could separate the artificial honey from the floral honeys.