The botanical, physicochemical, and biochemical characteristics of Northern Cyprus honeys

Abstract

Honey composition and biologically active properties vary according to the botanical and geographical characteristics of the region where it is produced. With this research, for the first time, the botanical, physico-chemical, and antioxidant properties of honeys from the Northern Cyprus region were investigated. The honeys were multi-floral properties and contained 33 variety pollens. The appearance of the honeys according to Hunter tritium color (L, a, b) values was as light-colored , greenness and yellowness. The proline amount varied from 657.39 to 1974.23 mg/kg. Sucrose was not detected in the samples, and the F/G ratios varied between 1.13 and 1.74. Total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) ranged from 19.10 to 83.90 mg GAE/100 g and 2.90 to 13.50 mg QUE/100 g, respectively. Total antioxidant capacities of the samples were tested by ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, and the results varied from 126.9 to 228.8 μmol Fe2SO4.7H2O/100 g and 34.10 to 138.6 mg/mL, respectively. The phenolic profiles of the samples were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array detection (HPLC–PDA) with 25 standards, and chrysin and pinocembrin were discovered as the major components. In conclusion, the Northern Cyprus honeys are light-colored heterofloral blossom honeys. However, they are rich in eucalyptus, citrus, olives, thymus, and acacia.