Antioxidant and metal chelating activities of honeys of Melipona beecheii and Frieseomelitta nigra from Tabasco, México

Abstract

Honey is a food product with high nutritional and pharmacological value. Most studies of this product have focused on studying the properties of honey produced by Apis mellifera, which has been used in alternative medicine, highlighting the antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities, among others. In this work, we identified the floral origin, the concentration of soluble protein and phenolic compounds, and we assessed the antioxidant and chelating activity of the honey produced by Melipona beecheii and Frieseomelitta nigra from the community of San Marcos in Tenosique, Tabasco, México. The results show that the honey produced by M. beecheii was of monofloral origin (Eugenia sp.); while that of F. nigra is of polyfloral origin, derived mainly from the species Piper sp., aff. Brosimum, Asteraceae, Ziziphus sp., Haematoxylum campechianum). Honey produced by F. nigra show higher concentration of phenolic compounds, it is more effective in entrapping the DPPH and superoxide radicals, and exhibits better copper chelating potential. The honey of M. beecheii has a higher capacity for uptake of ABTS radicals and chelation of iron. The uptake capacity of the hydroxyl radical was similar for both honeys. This work highlights the importance of having palynological and biochemical analyzes on the honeys of native stingless bees, because of their therapeutic potential, where for many species there is a lack of information.