Floral Origin Influences the Antibacterial Components and Activities of Commonly Produced Honey in Ethiopia

Honey has been used as a traditional medicine while its antibacterial components and activities primarily rely on geographical and blooming origin. The study aimed to investigate the antibacterial composition and activities among the honey collected from different areas and blooming origin. The blooming origin was identified using melissopalynology. The antibacterial components and zone of inhibition were determined by the Harmonized method of the International Honey Commission and the agar well diffusion method, respectively. Six different blooming-based honey, namely: Guizotia scabra (75.3%), Coffea arabica (68.6%), Vernonia amygdalina (90.5%), Schefflera abyssinica (100%), Croton macrostachyus (64.4%), and Eucalyptus globules honey (100%) were harvested in December, February, February, April, May and June 2022/2023 respectively. The result depicted the mean content of pH (4.27), Moisture (20.12 %), water activity (0.53), Phenol (49.23 mgGAE (milligram gallic acid equivalent) 100g of honey and Flavonoid (40.09 mgQE (milligram of quercetin equivalent) 100g of honey). The S. abyssinica honey had the highest pH (5.54 ± 0.19), moisture (22.46 ± 1.00), water activity (0.61 ± 0.01), lowest phenol (24.10 ± 0.43), and flavonoid (18.60 ± 2.67) content. However, C. macrostachyus honey contained more acidic (3.72 ± 0.03), low moisture content (18.06 ± 0.80) and water activity (0.47 ± 0.01). The V. amygdalina honey had the highest phenol (77.20 ± 0.74) and flavonoid (65.02 ± 3.76). The large median zone of inhibition ranged from 17.01 mm for C. macrostachyus honey to 10.51 mm for S. abyssinica honey against all bacterial strains. This finding showed an excellent content of the tested antibacterial composition and strong antibacterial activities of honey samples, varying with blooming source and collection area.