Determinatin of antioxidant activities of bee products of Caucasian bee race and comparison with the other races

Honey, pollen and propolis are natural products that have great importance for human life and health. Scientific studies from past to present had highlighted the degree of effects of these products. The studies have been mostly focused on comparison of the products with one another. In this study, the difference of Caucasian race was investigated in bee products (honey, pollen and propolis). In this context, honey, pollen and propolis samples from four bee races of Apis mellifera anatoliaca, Apis mellifera caucasica, Apis mellifera carnica and Apis mellifera syriaca, were used. General assessments on the samples were conducted with total polyphenol and flavonoid testing which phenolic agents were responsible for. Additionally, antioxidant activity was determined with CUPRAC and FRAP, methods based on the specific electron transfer. Also, DPPH radical scavenging activity, one of the spectrophotometric methods based on the remove of radicalic effect from medium, was performed in sample extracts. According to the results obtained from different methods, it was seen that Caucasian race of bees had no relative and statistical superiority compared to other races of bee products. It was concluded that the reason of the difference in bioactivity of the products is due to floral diversty and richness rather than physical property of the bees.