Determination of physicochemical properties and biological activities of honey specimens from Van region

A total of 45 taxon belongs to 18 family were identified on the basis of the pollen analyses of the honey samples from Van region. The dominant pollens were not determined in any of the samples. Honey from Çatak I (Centaurea sp. and Astragalus) Çatak II (Astragalus sp.), Çatak III (Astragalus sp.), Muradiye (Astragalus sp.), Çaldıran (Eremurus sp.) and Erciş (Astragalus sp.) were classified as the multifloral origin. The lowest and highest values of the physicochemical parameters determined in honey samples as follows; pH (3,44-3,94 (3,62); total aciditiy (meq/kg) (13,1-21,8 (18,0±0,09); electrical conductivity (mS/cm) (0,12-0,34 (0,17); brix (%) 80,7-81,45 (81,7±0,07); moisture content (%) (14,8-16,53 (15,49±0,1); HMF (mg/100g) (6,20-14,33 (10,21±0,42); L value (37,90-51,08 (43,0±1,58); a value (-2,94-0,36 (-1,07±0,68), b value (5,27-11,07 (8,7±0,87); phenol content (mg/100ml) (20,57-38,71 (28,15±0,43); flavanoid content (mg/100ml) (8,01-9,87 (9,03±0,22); carotenoid content (mg/kg) (0,62-1,14 (0,78±1,14); ascorbic acid content (mg/l) (0,50-1,59 (1,00±0,01). All tested honey samples showed dose dependent antibacterial activity against S. aureus ATCC 29213, S. aureus ATCC BAA977, E. hormaechei ATCC 700323, E. coli ATCC 25922, K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603. Honey samples also posessed antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP). Key Words: Honey, pollen, free, acidity, electrical conductivity