The Antioxidant Capacity of Monofloral Eucalyptus Flower Honey and Weed Honey Obtained from Jerash and Al-Zarqa Jordanian Governorates

Abstract

Honey contains natural antioxidants that can help to get rid of free radicals and improve our health. The antioxidant capacity of honey is determined by its chemical makeup. The antioxidant capacity of Monofloral honey, including Eucalyptus flower honey and Weed honey obtained from different Jordanian governorates (Jerash and al-Zarqa) were examined using the phenolic contents (GAE), DPPH free radical scavenging test (%), and Ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP). The Folin–Ciocalteu assay was used to assess the total phenol components in terms of the Gallic acid equivalent (GAE) in mg/g. Results showed that the Eucalyptus flower honey, and weeds honey both obtained from Jerash governorate followed by weeds honey obtained from Al-Zarqa governorate have the highest phenolic contents among the honey samples with the values of (10.6734 + 0.006) mg/g, (10.43889 + 0.012) mg/g and (10.1345+ 0.004) mg/g; respectively. The DPPH scavenging assay as compared to BHT scavenging (reference control) 59.61%, has demonstrated that the eucalyptus flower honey obtained from Al-Zarqa governorate and weeds honey obtained from Jerash governorate have exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging among honey samples with the values (12.8734+ 0.008)% and (11.5635+ 0.006)% respectively. Moreover, the reducing power tests of the reference compound ascorbic acid (0.751 mg/ml) have demonstrated that the weeds honey and eucalyptus honey both obtained from Jerash governorate have exhibited the highest reducing power with values of (15.8857+ 0.002) mg/ml and (16.8787+ 0.004) mg/ml respectively. It is important to note that honey has varying levels of antioxidant activity depending on its source and content.