EFFECT OF GEOGRAPHICAL PROVENANCE ON THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT CHARACTERISTICS AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF CHESTNUT HONEYS

phenols (Folin-Ciocalteau method), total flavonoids (aluminum chloride method), vitamin C content (RP-HPLC method), and antioxidant activity (FRAP and ABTS assays), evaluating also the consumers’ acceptability of fifty chestnut honey (Castanea sativa) samples from five different geographical areas of the Basilicata region (Southern Italy). A statistically significant effect of geographic origin on the all studied parameters was observed. The results showed that polyphenol content ranged from 11.28 (Camastra-Dolomiti lucane honeys) to 15.33 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g honey (Vulture Melfese honeys), and from 5.38 (Camastra-Dolomiti lucane honeys) to 19.94 mg quercetin equivalent per 100 g honey (Basso Pollino honeys), for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively. The antioxidant activity ranged from 58.86 (Camastra Dolomiti lucane honeys) to 63.59% (Collina Materana honeys) in the ABTS assay, and from 281.04 (Camastra Dolomiti lucane honeys) to 1129.16 μM Fe (II) (Vulture Melfese honeys) in the FRAP assay. Honeys from the areas with major anthropogenic activities and high population density presented the highest antioxidant activity. Consumer preference was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by geographical origin of chestnut honeys. The results indicate that chemical, physical or biological properties of honey are greatly influenced by the geographic origin.