Botanical, Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Monofloral Honeys from Mostaganem Province, Northwest Algeria

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of monofloral honeys collected from Mostaganem province, based on their melissopalynological, physicochemical and biological properties. Methods: Eight honey samples were analyzed for pollen profile (quantitative and qualitative) and physicochemical parameters, including moisture, electrical conductivity, pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), color, sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, turanose, melezitose), as well as their as their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Result: Melissopalynological analysis identified 49 pollen types from 29 botanical families, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Apiaceae being the most represented. The pollen types found as dominant were Eucalyptus and Daucus carota. The number of pollen type identified per sample ranged between 1.900 and 37.700 grains/g. The physicochemical parameters of the studied honeys complied with European and international standards. Among the analyzed samples, Eucalyptus honey exhibited the highest polyphenol (56.61 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoid content (8.54 mg QE/100 g), along with the highest reducing power (55.64%). Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between, conductivity and color, pH and moisture, as well as polyphenol content with antioxidant, inhibitrice concentration at 50 and antibacterial activity. These findings confirm the high quality of local honeys from the Mostaganem region and their potential applications in alternative therapeutic strategies.