Total phenol, tocopherol and antibacterial quality of honey Apis mellifera sold in Owo community, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The total phenol, the tocopherol and the antibacterial activity of different honey Apis mellifera sold in Owo Community, Ondo State, Nigeria were evaluated. The total phenol, expressed as garlic acid equivalents ranged from 2.85 mg/100 g ‘Oja Oba’ to 0.75 mg/100 g ‘Hausa’ honey, while the tocopherol ranged from 17.60/100 g ’Oja Oba’ to 2.77/100 g ‘Ilorin’ honey. All the different honey sold in Owo Community were assayed for antibacterial activities against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli and Salmonella dysentriae using the hole-plate diffusion method. ‘Ikare’ junction honey, ‘Hausa’ honey and ‘Ilorin’ honey showed the highest levels of antibacterial activity against all the bacterial used. The known safe use of honey without toxic effects suggest that honey could be used to treat diseases arises from these bacterial pathogens.