Antioxidant Potential of Stingless Bee Honey from Mangrove and Montane Vegetation Types in Tanzania

Abstract

Stingless bee honey is a rich source of antioxidants and is highly regarded in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments.  The antioxidant capacity of honey can be influenced by its origin and the floral resources used by bees. Consequently, this study evaluated the antioxidant potential of stingless bee honey from two vegetation types: montane and mangrove. The honey samples displayed remarkable antioxidant potential, with notable levels of total phenolic content (197.0–263.1 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoid content (118.5–156.7 mg QE/100 g), ascorbic acid (25.1–30.0 mg/100 g), lycopene (2.8–3.7 mg/100 g), β-carotene (0.8–1.7 mg/100 g), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity (68.5–73.6%), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (265.9–272.7 µmol Fe(II)/100 g). Notably, the antioxidant properties varied between vegetation types, with mangrove honey exhibiting significantly higher levels of total phenolic and flavonoid content (p < 0.01). These results underscore the therapeutic potential of stingless bee honey for managing oxidative stress and the associated diseases.