A Review on Total Phenolic Content, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Stingless Bee (Heterotrigona Itama) Honey in Malaysia

Ho, Shie Shen (2022) A Review on Total Phenolic Content, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Stingless Bee (Heterotrigona Itama) Honey in Malaysia. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Honey produced by the stingless bee is known as Kelulut honey in Malaysia. This stingless bee honey is reported to consist of total phenolic content and therapeutic properties such as antioxidant and antimicrobial. Yet far less research has been done on stingless bee honey than the honey bees’ honey due to the lesser amount of honey produced by stingless bees than honey bees which is also happened in Malaysia. This review evaluated the published total phenolic content data of stingless bee honey focused on the bee type of Heterotrigona itama, in various external factors such as geographical origin, collected months, types of floral sources, types of solvents, storage condition and wavelength. It also reviewed and summarised up-to-date research on the potential values of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Malaysian stingless bee honey. There are 189 papers had been searched from Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar between 2011 until 2021. After screening, 20 journals were selected for evaluation in total phenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial. The results of the review show that Heterotrigona itama honey contains phenolic and are excellent in antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Data of total phenolic content was pooled and calculated as 52.26 ± 31.06 mg/100 g, which was ranged from 4.47 mg/100 g to 141.74 mg/100 g and affected by various external factors. Heterotrigona itama honey showed remarkable antioxidant with the used assay including DPPH scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), Ascorbic Acid Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (AEAC) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). Heterotrigona itama honey also shows the power of antimicrobial that inhibits Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and others. Stingless bee honey showed potential for use as therapeutic agent as it contains phenolic that is highly correlated to antioxidant content as well as it can act against a wide range of bacteria as antimicrobial agent.