Effect of Altitude on Polyphenol Content, Antioxidant Activity and Multi-Element Composition of Wildflower Honey

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of altitude on the phenolic content, antioxidant activity and mineral content of multifloral honeys collected in three different areas (plain, hill and mountain areas) of the Basilicata region. Our results show that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the multimineral profile were influenced by the altitudes of the different agro-climatic areas which are characterized by different soil characteristics and floral biodiversity. There was a negative correlation between altitude and total phenols, but there was a positive correlation between altitude and total flavonoids. Furthermore, altitude is closely related to antioxidant activities. Furthermore, the low correlations between antioxidant activities and polyphenols indicate that antioxidant activity is not only promoted by polyphenols but also by other biologically active substances (catalase, ascorbic acid and proteins) which contribute to the antioxidant activity of honey. This research demonstrates how different altitudes influence the analyzed parameters, confirming the uniqueness of honey with respect to the area of origin.