Honey and Its Biomimetic Deep Eutectic Solvent Modulate the Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenols

Honey is sweet, but is it strong enough to boost antioxidants? A new study says it can—if you mix it with the right polyphenols.

Honey has long been celebrated for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory powers. Yet, compared to other bee products like propolis, its antioxidant activity (AOA) lags behind. Scientists have tried mixing honey with polyphenols, but most methods either limit the polyphenols' bioavailability or ruin honey's natural characteristics. Now, researchers propose a smarter approach: enrich honey with a polyphenol extract from raspberries, after evaporating the solvent. They also created a honey-biomimetic natural deep eutectic solvent (NaDES) to compare. The team tested key polyphenols from the extract with both honey and NaDES, measuring AOA using four different methods: DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP. The results were intriguing—the antioxidant behavior of honey-polyphenol mixtures swung between synergism and antagonism, depending on the method, polyphenol type, and concentration. Notably, the honey-biomimetic NaDES showed similar AOA behavior to honey, suggesting honey has extra properties that sometimes boost synergism or reduce antagonism. In the end, both honey and its biomimetic NaDES modulate the antioxidant activity of polyphenol extracts, opening new doors for functional food design.

Key Points

• Honey's antioxidant activity is lower than propolis.
• Raspberry polyphenol extract enriches honey after solvent evaporation.
• Honey and biomimetic NaDES modulate polyphenol antioxidant activity.