Effects of honey enrichment with Spirulina platensis on phenolics, bioaccessibility, antioxidant capacity and fatty acids

The honeybees have been fed by Spirulina platensis extract and algal honey with green color produced by the bees naturally was obtained the first time in order to enhance its medicinal properties, mainly antioxidant properties. Antioxidant capacity, bioaccessibility of phenolics, hydrolysable and extractable phenolics, sugar, phenolic and fatty acid profiles were determined in the Spirulina honey. Total phenolic content of the Spirulina honey was 14.37 mg GAE/100g and increased 28.53% with Spirulina enrichment. Antioxidant capacities of the Spirulina honey were determined as 6.31, 5.85 and 3.66 mu mol Trolox/g by ABTS, CUPRAC and DPPH methods in bioaccessible extracts. No significant difference was observed between control and Spirulina honey samples in terms of bioaccessibility of the total phenolics (p <= 0.01). Among the detected phenolic compounds (15 phenolics), acacetin (48.55%) and pinocembrine (47.13%) were the highest. Total phenolic content of the honey can be enriched up to 20% by feeding of the honey bees with 10% of Spirulina. Saccharose content in Spirulina honey was lower than the control honey as 4.42%.

Automated summary

By feeding honeybees with Spirulina, the antioxidant properties of Spirulina honey were enhanced, leading to an increase in total phenolic content. The antioxidant capacities of the bioaccessible extracts were also improved, showing higher values in the Spirulina-enriched honey samples.