J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 14, no. 3, Article ID 2651, May-Jun 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.3.2651Original Article
Physicochemical, biochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of artisanal honey from coastal and Andean regions of Peru
[Caracterización fisicoquímica, bioquímica y actividad antioxidante de la miel artesanal de las regiones costeras y andinas del Perú]
Felipe Surco-Laos1, Jorge A. García1, María R. Bendezú1, Haydee Chávez1, Juan J. Palomino-Jhong1, Doris Laos-Anchante1, Elizabeth J. Melgar-Merino1, Pompeyo A. Cuba-Garcia1, Paulina Eliades Yarasca-Carlos2, Angel T. Alvarado3
1Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, San Luis Gonzaga National University of Ica, 11004, Ica, Peru.
2Biological Sciences Faculty, San Luis Gonzaga National University of Ica, 11001, Ica, Peru.
3Center for Research in Molecular Pharmacology and 4P Medicine, VRI, San Ignacio de Loyola University, La Molina 15024, Peru.
*E-mail: aalvarado@usil.edu.pe
Abstract
Context: Honey contains phenolic constituents and minerals that contribute to measurable in vitro antioxidant capacity, which may vary with botanical and geographic origin.
Aims: To evaluate physicochemical parameters, total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), mineral composition, and in vitro antioxidant capacity in artisanal honey samples collected from coastal and Andean regions of Peru.
Methods: Eleven coded honey samples were analyzed in triplicate (analytical replicates). TPC was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay and TFC by an AlCl₃-based colorimetric assay. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays. Minerals were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry after incineration and acid digestion.
Results: TPC and TFC differed across samples, and DPPH/FRAP responses varied by sample. A significant correlation was observed between TPC and TFC, and between DPPH and FRAP; however, no significant monotonic association between antioxidant capacity and TPC/TFC was detected in this dataset.
Conclusions: Peruvian artisanal honey samples showed acceptable physicochemical indices and variable in vitro antioxidant capacity. Botanical authentication and compound-level profiling are required to strengthen floral-origin conclusions and to clarify the determinants of antioxidant capacity.
Keywords: DPPH; FRAP; honey; physicochemical quality; total flavonoids; total polyphenols.
Resumen
Contexto: La miel contiene compuestos fenólicos y minerales que contribuyen a una capacidad antioxidante medible in vitro, la cual puede variar según el origen botánico y geográfico.
Objetivos: Evaluar los parámetros fisicoquímicos, el contenido total de polifenoles (TPC), el contenido total de flavonoides (TFC), la composición mineral y la capacidad antioxidante in vitro en muestras de miel artesanal recolectadas en las regiones costeras y andinas del Perú.
Métodos: Se analizaron once muestras de miel codificadas por triplicado (réplicas analíticas). TPC se determinó mediante el ensayo de Folin-Ciocalteu y TFC mediante un ensayo colorimétrico con AlCl₃. La capacidad antioxidante se evaluó mediante los ensayos DPPH y FRAP. Los minerales se cuantificaron mediante espectrofotometría de absorción atómica de llama tras la incineración y digestión ácida.
Resultados: El contenido de TPC y TFC varió entre las muestras, y las respuestas DPPH/FRAP también variaron según la muestra. Se observó una correlación significativa entre TPC y TFC, y entre DPPH y FRAP; sin embargo, no se detectó ninguna asociación monotónica significativa entre la capacidad antioxidante y el contenido de TPC/TFC en este conjunto de datos.
Conclusiones: Las muestras de miel artesanal peruana mostraron índices fisicoquímicos aceptables y una capacidad antioxidante in vitro variable. Se requiere autenticación botánica y análisis de compuestos para reforzar las conclusiones sobre el origen floral y esclarecer los factores determinantes de la capacidad antioxidante.
Palabras Clave: calidad fisicoquímica; DPPH; flavonoides totales; FRAP; miel; polifenoles totales.
Citation Format: Surco-Laos F, García JA, Bendezú MR, Chávez H, Palomino JJ, Laos D, Melgar EJ, Cuba PA, Yarasca PE, Alvarado AT (2026) Physicochemical, biochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of artisanal honey from coastal and Andean regions of Peru. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 14(3): 2651. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.3.2651
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