Determination of phenolic components of Anzer honey and pollen by high performance liquid chromatography and their antioxidant properties

Honey is a very valuable product and a source of healing since mankind?s beginning. Its composition and biological properties vary depending on the region's geographic and floral characteristics.This study was aimed to elucidate the composition of the biologically active compounds and to determine the antioxidant properties of honey and pollens of Anzer region of Eastern Black Sea. Analyses of 17 phenolic compound standards were performed using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. All honey and pollen samples have been found to have 15 phenolic compounds except catechin and chlorogenic acid, and benzoic acid, quercetin, cis,trans-abscisic acid, trans-cinnamic acid were found to be main phenolic compounds.Furthermore, antioxidant activities of honey and pollens of Anzer were determined using total phenolic content, ferric (III) reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric (II) reducing antioxidant capacity and DPPH? (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity tests. Total phenolic contents were determined according to gallic acid standard. The results of FRAP , CUPRAC and DPPH? radical scavenging activity measurements were expressed as Trolox® equivalent antioxidant power (TEAP), Trolox® equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and SC50, respectively. It was determined that all investigated honey and pollen samples have antioxidant activity. Especially total phenolic content of pollen samples was approximately 10-20 times higher than that of honey samples, and accordingly pollen samples have higher antioxidant activity.When compared with mixed flower honeys in the literature, honey samples of Anzer region were found to be richer in terms of both variety and the total amount of phenolics and accordingly it was concluded that they are a natural product rich in antioxidant. Presented study confirms the knowledge of Anzer honey known as a source of healing among people may be resulted from the phenolic compounds.