Influence of Fujairah’s geography and climatic conditions on the antioxidant, antibacterial, and phytochemical properties of local honey

Abstract

Abstract Honey bioactivity varies with floral origin and environment, yet honeys from the Gulf region are poorly characterised. We compared five honeys from different regions of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, with Australian Manuka honey, evaluating their antibacterial and antioxidant activities, phenolic, flavonoid content, and metabolomic profiles. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was assessed using agar diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Antioxidant capacity was measured via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content. Floral sources were confirmed through melissopalynology, and chemical profiles analysed using Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Acacia-rich honeys from Ohala and Tawiyan exhibited highest activity. Ohala honey exhibited over threefold higher phenolic content (170.3 vs. 55.6 mg GAE/100 g) and ~fourfold stronger antioxidant activity (IC50 11.5 vs. 46.7 mg/ml). All local honeys demonstrated stronger antibacterial activity, with Ohala honey standing out for its superior effect, producing inhibition zones of 17.33 mm against S. aureus and 10.00 mm against E. coli. Metabolomic profiling revealed distinct chemical signatures, with Ohala and Tawiyan clustering separately. Unique compounds, such as D-tagatose, methylmalonic acid, and trans-piceid, were identified in Ohala, alongside shared metabolites from Acacia sources. These findings underscore the potent bioactivity of Fujairah Acacia honeys, supporting their potential as high-value nutraceuticals.