Planta Med 2012; 78 - PI466
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321153

Physicochemical profile of selected Greek honeys – Biological activities

C Athanasopoulou 1, H Damianakos 1, K Graikou 1, E Lambrinea 2, C Israilides 2, I Chinou 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy & Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Zografou 15771, Athens, Greece
  • 2Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, S. Venizelou 1 str., Lycovrissi 14123, Athens, Greece

As a part of a systematic research on the chemical composition of Greek bee-honeys, and as it has been observed an increasing interest in the use of honey for the treatment of bacterial infections as well as in traditional Mediterranean food, we report in this study the chemical analyses, the antimicrobial evaluation and the pollinic spectrum of twelve characteristic honey samples produced in different regions of Greece (from forests, islands, of different % of thyme, pine, fir, orange, etc).

In the framework of typification of Greek honeys based on their pollen; pollinic spectra (which include the identification of the kind of pollen and their percentages) were obtained by Louveaux's quantitative microscopical analyses of our samples. The honey-samples have been studied for their physicochemical profile, by determination of pH, free acidity, humidity, conductivity, quantitative analysis of HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural) and sugar content. Also their chemical profiles were studied through GC-MS and classical isolation procedures. All of them showed a strong and broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities against all assayed microorganisms.

Acknowledgment: This study has been partially financially supported by the project 70/3/10786