Australian Honeypot Ant (Camponotus inflatus) Honey—A Comprehensive Analysis of the Physiochemical Characteristics,Bioactivity, and HPTLC Profile of a Traditional Indigenous Australian Food |
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| Authors: | Md Khairul Islam Ivan Lozada Lawag Tomislav Sostaric Edie Ulrich Danny Ulrich Terrence Dewar Lee Yong Lim Cornelia Locher |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products Limited (CRC HBP), University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (M.K.I.); (I.L.L.);2.Division of Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (T.S.); (L.Y.L.);3.15 Pira Avenue, Kalgoorlie, WA 6430, Australia; (E.U.); (D.U.);4.Australian Biome, 11 Oxted Place, Morley, WA 6062, Australia; |
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| Abstract: | Despite its cultural and nutritional importance for local Aboriginal people, the unusual insect honey produced by Western Australian honeypot ant (Camponotus inflatus) has to date been rarely investigated. This study reports on the honey’s physicochemical properties, its total phenolic, major sugars and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural contents, and its antioxidant activities. The honey’s color value is 467.63 mAU/63.39 mm Pfund, it has a pH of 3.85, and its electric conductivity is 449.71 µSiemens/cm. Its Brix value is 67.00, corresponding to a 33% moisture content. The total phenolics content is 19.62 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g honey. Its antioxidant activity measured using the DPPH* (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric reducing–antioxidant power) assays is 1367.67 µmol Trolox/kg and 3.52 mmol Fe+2/kg honey, respectively. Major sugars in the honey are glucose and fructose, with a fructose-to-glucose ratio of 0.85. Additionally, unidentified sugar was found in minor quantities. |
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| Keywords: | Aboriginal food insect honey physicochemical properties high-performance thin-layer chromatography sugar content antioxidant activity |
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