Antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory profiles of nine Saudi honeys revealed by multivariate analysis

Honey is well known for its nutritional and therapeutic potential since ancient time. The current study was designed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of nine Saudi honey types. Three extracts, ethanol, methanol and aqueous, were prepared from each type. Results of fructose, glucose, sucrose and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural contents in the tested Saudi honey types indicated their good quality with the honeyofSider Bisha and Sider Albaha occupied the highest position. Polar extracts of honey recorded the highest TPC and TFCvalues and the best values were recorded from the aqueous extract of Sider Bisha (197.67 mg GAE/100 g) and Talh Hail (67.45 mg RE/100 g) respectively. All honey extracts showed significant antioxidant activity and the MeOH extract of Sider Bisha displayed the highest anti-ABTS (809.42 mg TE/g) and chelating (98.71 mg EDTAE/g) properties and that of Sumra Bisha recorded the best anti-DPPH activity (30.67 mg TE/g). The aqueous extract of the latter and that of Talh Hail revealed the best Fe++ (248.41 mg TE/g) and Cu++ (256.72 mg TE/g) reducing capacity. All honey types exerted remarkable enzyme inhibitory activity; all extracts of Sumra Bisha, EtOH and aqueous extracts of Sider BishaandSiderTehamhandMajraaswellasaqueousextractofTalhTehamhandMeOHextractofTalhHailexerted remarkable anti-acetylcholinesterase effect (9.64–10.23 mg GALAE/g; p ≥ 0.05) while aqueous extract of Sumra Bisha andSiderAlbahaexhibitedthehighestanti-butyrylcholinesteraseeffect(16.46and15.13mgGALAE/g;p≥0.05).MeOH extract of Qatada honey recorded the highest anti-Tyr effect (260.95 mg KAE/g). These findings indicated that the nine Saudi honey types are of good quality, high bioactive molecules and could play a significant role in oxidative stress.