Generally speaking, the darker the honey the richer it is both in mineral content and therapeutic effect. Buckwheat honey has a history of it's beneficial value and this study confirms its high antioxidant activity and phenolic content. Though it may be strong in flavor for the palette, it's an ideal complement to a wound healing strategy.
The
Protective Effect of Whole Honey and Phenolic Extract on Oxidative DNA Damage
in Mice Lymphocytes Using Comet Assay
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 2017 Sep 19
In this
study, the antioxidant activity and the protective effect against hydrogen
peroxide-induced DNA damage were assessed for five honeys of different
botanical origin. Seven phenolic acids were detected in the honey samples.
Ferulic acid was the most abundant phenolic acid detected in longan honey,
jujube honey and buckwheat honey. Ellagic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and
protocatechuic acid were the main phenolic acids detected in vitex honey.
Of all
honey samples tested, the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant
activity were found in buckwheat honey, whereas the lowest total phenolic content
and antioxidant activity were found in locust honey. Treatment with hydrogen
peroxide induced a 62% increase in tail DNA in mice lymphocytes, and all
studied honeys significantly inhibited this effect (P < 0.05).
The
buckwheat honey with higher antioxidant capability also exhibited super
protective effect than others. Phenolic extracts of honey displayed greater
protective effects than whole honey in comet assay. The hydrogen
peroxide-generated increase in 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was effectively
inhibited by the honeys studied (P < 0.05). Moreover, a dose-effect
relationship between honey concentration and its protective effect was clearly
observed in this study.
It can be
deduced that phenolic acids of honey can penetrate into lymphocytes and protect
DNA from oxidative damage by scavenging hydrogen peroxide and/or chelating
ferrous ions.
