The Relationship between Antioxidant and Anti-Ulcer Activities in Saudi Honey Samples Harvested from Various Regions in Different Seasons

Abstract

The main chemical components of 13 Saudi honey samples (composed of winter and summer honeys) were identified according to anti-ulcer and antioxidant activity by using phytochemical and chromatographic analyses. Phytochemical screening of ethyl acetate and water extracts was used to detect the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, amino acids, and phenolic acids. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of sugar contents was used to detect the presence of galactose in all of the honey samples. The other detected sugars were sucrose, fructose, and arabinose. Fifteen amino acids were detected in all of the honey samples: Prolin is dominant in all of the honey samples. The citric acid and tartaric acids of winter and summer honey were also detected, in addition to faint traces of free oxalic acid. Both samples were tested for amino acids, phenolic compounds, and sugars. The most crucial result derived in this study is the effect of summer honey on ulcers. The anti-ulcer activities were also evaluated, showing that oral administration of the honey samples reduced the intensity of ulcer scores when compared to the control group. Similarly, there was a highly significant reduction in the values of the ulcer indices and areas in rats that received the same sample (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) in comparison with those of the ulcer control rats. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the honey samples was evaluated, revealing a proportional relationship between the anti-oxidant and anti-ulcer activities. The results of this study could be reached that the effectiveness of honey as an anti-ulcer increase with the increasing its antioxidant activities.

Share and Cite:

N. Al-Jaber, "The Relationship between Antioxidant and Anti-Ulcer Activities in Saudi Honey Samples Harvested from Various Regions in Different Seasons," Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 8A, 2013, pp. 131-138. doi: 10.4236/fns.2013.48A016.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] D. Anupama, K. K. Bhat and V. K. Sapna, “Sensory and Physico-Chemical Properties of Commercial Samples of Honey,” Food Research International, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2003, pp. 183-119. doi:10.1016/S0963-9969(02)00135-7
[2] J. Lachman, A. Hejtmánková, J. Sykora, J. Karban, M. Orsák and B. Rygerová, “Contents of Major Phenolic and Flavonoid Antioxidants in Selected Czech Honey,” Czech Journal of Food Science, Vol. 28, No. 6, 2010, pp. 412426.
[3] P. Krystyna and M. Biesaga, “Analysis of Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Honey,” TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 28, No. 7, 2009, pp. 893-902. doi:10.1016/j.trac.2009.03.015
[4] S. Z. Makawi, E. A. Gadkariem and S. M. H. Ayoub, “Determination of Antioxidant Flavonoids in Sudanese Honey Samples by Solid Phase Extraction and High Performance Liquid Chromatography,” E-Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2009, pp. 429-437.
[5] T. Mizui, H. Sato, F. Hirose and M. Doteeuchi, “Effect of Anti-Peroxidative Drugs on Gastric Damage Induced by Ethanol in Rat,” Life Science, Vol. 41, No. 10-11, 1987, pp. 755-763.
[6] J. Nash, L. Lynn and M. Deakin, “Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonist in Peptic Ulcer Disease. Evidence for a Prophylactic Use,” Drugs, Vol. 6, No. 47, 1994, pp. 862871.
[7] M. D. Basil and M. S. Howard, “Clinical Gastroenterology,” 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1995.
[8] K. R. McQuaid, “Alimentary System,” In: L. M. Tierney, S. J. McPhee and M. A. Papadakis, Eds., Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 41st Edition, Lange Medical Books, McGraw Hill Company, New York, 2002, pp. 616-621.
[9] R. K. Goel and K. Sairam, “Anti-Ulcer Drugs from Indigenous Sources with Emphasis on Musa Sapientum, Tamrabhasma,” Asparagus Racemosus and Zingiberofficinale. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 34, No. 2, 2002, pp. 100-110.
[10] F. Borrelli and A. A. Izzo, “The Plant Kingdom as a Source of Anti-Ulcer Remedies,” Phytotherapy Research, Vol. 14, No. 8, 2000, pp. 581-591. doi:10.1002/1099-1573(200012)14:8<581::AID-PTR776>3.0.CO;2-S
[11] A. Fabiani, A. Versari, G. P. Parpinello, M. Castellari and S. Galassi, “High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Free Amino Acids in Fruit Juices Using Derivatization with 9-Fluorenylmethyl-Chloroformate,” Journal of Chromatographic Science, Vol. 40, No. 1, 2002, pp. 14-18. doi:10.1093/chromsci/40.1.14
[12] D. J. Finney, “Statistical Methods in Biological Assay,” Charles Griffin and Company Ltd., London, 1964, p. 597.
[13] G. P. Garg, S. S. Nigma and C. W. Ogle, “The Gastric Antiulcer Effects of the Leaves of the Neem Tree,” Planta Medica, Vol. 59, No. 5, 1993, pp. 215-217. doi:10.1055/s-2006-959654
[14] G. B. Glavin and A. A. Mikhail, “Stress and Ulcer Etiology in the Rat,” Physiological Behavior, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1976, pp. 135-139. doi:10.1016/0031-9384(76)90296-1
[15] A. Alkofahi and A. AH, “Pharmacological Screening of Anti-Ulcerogenic Effects of Some Jordanian Medicinal Plants in Rats,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 67, No. 3, 1999, pp. 341-345. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00126-3
[16] P. A. Nwafor, F. K. Okwuasaba and L. G. Binda, “Antidiarrhoeal and Antiulcerogenic Effect of Methanolic Extracts of Asparagus Pubescensroot in Rats,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 72, No. 3, 2000, pp. 421-427. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00261-0
[17] S. Szabo, “Mechanisms of Mucosal Injury in the Stomach and Duodenum: Time-Sequence Analysis of Morphologic, Functional, Biochemical and Histochemical Studies,” Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Vol. 22, No. S127, 1987, pp. 21-28. doi:10.3109/00365528709090946
[18] W. B. Buck, G. D. Osweiter and A. Van Gelder, “Clinical and Diagnostic Veterinary Toxicology,” 2nd Edition, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., Iowa, 1976, p. 5211.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.