Illumination of the secondary metabolite and sugar profile of honey, determination of its biological activities

It is emphasized that Caucasian honeybees, with their long tongues, play an important role in the production of white honey, as they collect nectar from various flowers in high-altitude mountainous regions. The collected honey is then filtered and left to rest, resulting in a product with a dense consistency and a distinctive, intense flavor profile. Within the scope of this thesis, the sugar profile and biological activities of white honey were determined, and a secondary metabolite analysis was conducted to identify specific chemical and quality parameters. Among the analytical methods used, LCMS/MS enabled the identification of 35 different compounds, while HPLC was employed to quantify sugars such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, turanose, and maltose. In addition, the proline content and diastase activity of white honey were analyzed. The identification of these components provides valuable insights into the nutritional value and potential health benefits of white honey. In addition to these properties, the inhibitory effects of white honey on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were investigated. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of white honey extracts—prepared using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) and the traditional maceration method— were examined within the scope of this thesis. Based on the findings, it is considered that the biological activities and compositional analyses of white honey, as a natural product, will contribute significantly and meaningfully to the existing literature. Keywords: White honey, Secondary metabolite, HPLC, LC-MS/MS, NADES, AChE, BChE, Antioxidant