Antioxidant Activity of Honey Samples from the Southern Rainforest and Northern Savannah Ecosystems in Nigeria

Selected physicochemical parameters, total phenolics, flavonoids and free radical scavenging activity of honey samples from the northern savannah region and southern rainforest ecosystems of Nigeria were investigated. Moisture and ash content of most samples were within acceptable limits. Total phenolic content ranged from 23.92 to 82.34mgGAE/100g for both ecosystems. Flavonoids varied between 2.52 – 27.21mgQE/100g for honey samples from the northern savannah zone and 9.17 – 22.38mgQE/100g for honey samples from the southern rainforest ecosystem. The samples exhibited good antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay and poor metal chelating activity. A linear positive relationship existed between antioxidant activity and total phenolics (R= 0.85)/flavonoids (R = 0.78). The analyzed honey samples possess valuable antioxidants for culinary and medicinal uses.