Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park
The main objective of this study was to provide an overview of the potential health-promoting properties of honeys collected at specific apiary locations from the protected area of Montesinho Natural Park (MNP), by analyzing their amino acid and polyphenolic profiles, and their biological properties...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/6/963 |
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| author | Clara Grosso Sónia Soares Aurora Silva Cristina Soares Manuela M. Moreira Olena Dorosh M. Fátima Barroso Miguel A. Prieto Cristina Delerue-Matos |
| author_facet | Clara Grosso Sónia Soares Aurora Silva Cristina Soares Manuela M. Moreira Olena Dorosh M. Fátima Barroso Miguel A. Prieto Cristina Delerue-Matos |
| author_sort | Clara Grosso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The main objective of this study was to provide an overview of the potential health-promoting properties of honeys collected at specific apiary locations from the protected area of Montesinho Natural Park (MNP), by analyzing their amino acid and polyphenolic profiles, and their biological properties, and comparing them with the renowned Manuka honey. The results revealed differences in total phenolic content among the samples examined and between sampling campaigns, with values ranging from 55.6 to 225 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 g of honey, compared to 57.2 mg GAE/100 g for Manuka honey. Gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and catechin were the key phenolics of MNP honey samples. MNP honey exhibited high levels of essential amino acids (phenylalanine, lysine, and valine), strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, moderate enzyme inhibition, and high proline content in some locations. These results highlight the exceptional nutritional and therapeutic potential of MNP honey. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e1c69abd70a443d8fef8115b5b4a7ff |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e1c69abd70a443d8fef8115b5b4a7ff2025-08-20T02:11:23ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-03-0114696310.3390/foods14060963Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural ParkClara Grosso0Sónia Soares1Aurora Silva2Cristina Soares3Manuela M. Moreira4Olena Dorosh5M. Fátima Barroso6Miguel A. Prieto7Cristina Delerue-Matos8REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Food Group (NuFoG), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)—CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalThe main objective of this study was to provide an overview of the potential health-promoting properties of honeys collected at specific apiary locations from the protected area of Montesinho Natural Park (MNP), by analyzing their amino acid and polyphenolic profiles, and their biological properties, and comparing them with the renowned Manuka honey. The results revealed differences in total phenolic content among the samples examined and between sampling campaigns, with values ranging from 55.6 to 225 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 g of honey, compared to 57.2 mg GAE/100 g for Manuka honey. Gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and catechin were the key phenolics of MNP honey samples. MNP honey exhibited high levels of essential amino acids (phenylalanine, lysine, and valine), strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, moderate enzyme inhibition, and high proline content in some locations. These results highlight the exceptional nutritional and therapeutic potential of MNP honey.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/6/963Montesinho Natural Parkhoneyamino acidsprolinephenolic compoundsantioxidant activity |
| spellingShingle | Clara Grosso Sónia Soares Aurora Silva Cristina Soares Manuela M. Moreira Olena Dorosh M. Fátima Barroso Miguel A. Prieto Cristina Delerue-Matos Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park Foods Montesinho Natural Park honey amino acids proline phenolic compounds antioxidant activity |
| title | Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park |
| title_full | Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park |
| title_short | Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park |
| title_sort | exploring the nutritional value and health benefits of honey from the portuguese protected area of montesinho natural park |
| topic | Montesinho Natural Park honey amino acids proline phenolic compounds antioxidant activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/6/963 |
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