Honeys from different floral sources, individual phenolics
present in honey, as well as non-phenolic compounds such as
the most prevalent amino and organic acids, and the main
carbohydrates, have been subjected to DC polarographic measurement
of AO activity for the first time. Total HPS activity of honey
samples has been correlated with AO activity determined by AO
assays widely used in analysis of honey (FC, DPPH, ORAC, TEAC and
FRAP), as well as with relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI)
calculated by assigning equal weight to each applied assay.
Reliability of DC polarographic assay has been estimated through
correlations between obtained results and RACI. Validity of DC
polarographic assay was confirmed based on correlations obtained,
analysis of variance (ANOVA) and F-test. Post ANOVA’s Tukey HSD
test at the p < 0.05 confidence level was performed in order to
access the statistically significant differences within each AO assay.
In order to obtain better insight in the contribution of particular
honey compound to its total HPS activity the most relevant
representatives of carbohydrates, organic acids and amino acids,
phenolic acids and flavonoids were included into the study. Based
on the obtained results the combined contribution of both
phenolics and non-phenolics has been discussed.