Argentine stingless bee honey: bioactive compounds and health-promoting properties

Despite all the advantages of consuming meliponid honey, meliponiculture has not been sufficiently promoted in Argentina yet, and published studies on these species of bees are very scarce. Tetragonisca fiebrigi honey (TfH) or Yateí honey has recently been incorporated into the Argentine food code. This study assesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and acute toxicity by oral administration of TfH in rats. In addition, we present the melissopalynological analysis and physicochemical characterization. High-performance liquid chromatography identifies and quantifies sugars and phenolic compounds. The T. fiebrigi honey analyzed exhibited ABTS^•+ and DPPH radical scavenging effect (IC₅₀= 98.28 mg/ml and IC₅₀=337.83 mg/ml, respectively). A significant reduction in hind paw edema (44.44%) was observed in rats pretreated with TfH honey (1000 mg/kg b.w.) 3.0 h after dosing and significantly reduced transudative and granuloma weights at all doses tested (27.34%, 35.53% and 47.53% granuloma inhibition). The TfH honey oral administration produced analgesic responses in the three models used (acetic acid, formalin, tail immersion). Ferulic, ellagic, coumaric, gallic, cinnamic acids and the flavonoids quercetin and hesperetin were identified and quantified. Fructose (40.9%), glucose (29.02%) and sucrose (1.06%) were the main sugars. TfH honey administration did not produce lethal effects or clinical signs of disease in the acute toxicity study. The results showed that T. fiebrigi honey could be a good source of bioactive natural compounds with therapeutic and nutritional value.