Sunflower Honey Produced in Turkey Scavenges Singlet Oxygen and Inhibits Lipid Peroxidation via Antiradical Activity

Honey is a spectacular food due to its great ingredients and bioactivity. Since antic times, it has been known and used by the people as food and medicine. Herein, the antiradical and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities of sunflower honey produced in four regions of Adana city and various wholesalers through Turkey were studied. The antiradical activity was performed using ABTS and DPPH assays, while lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity was carried out using the β-carotene-linoleic acid test. All sunflower honey samples exhibited excellent antioxidant and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. The honey samples scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals in the range of 27-30 and 15-18 µg/mL, IC₅₀ values, respectively. The sunflower honey samples from various wholesalers served 46-60 and 31-45 µg/mL IC₅₀ values, respectively. The sunflower honey inhibited lipid peroxidation dose-dependently. The IC₅₀ values were calculated in the range of 5-7 µg/mL. On the other hand, the sunflower honey purchased from various wholesalers displayed 11-14 µg/mL inhibitory activity. The results of antiradical activities supported those results of lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. The activities of processed sunflower honey samples exhibited less activity than those of produced ones. It was concluded that the filtering process and honey sample's shelf life might affect the lesser antiradical and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. Moreover, the possibilities such as storage and processing of honey are among the factors that affect the composition of honey. Consuming or using honey freshly, therefore, advised to be benefited from the medicinal properties of honey.