Determinant of Bioactive Compound Accumulation in Algerian Honey: A Comparative Physicochemical and Antioxidant Analysis of Urban and Mountainous Origins

Background: The chemical composition and biological activity of honey are profoundly influenced by botanical origin and environmental conditions. With the expansion of urban beekeeping, there is a growing necessity to compare the quality and functional properties of honey produced in anthropogenic environments with those of honey from traditional mountainous landscapes. In Algeria, where beekeeping is practiced across diverse ecological zones, the influence of geographical origin on honey quality remains insufficiently explored.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical parameters, sugar profile, and antioxidant capacity of Algerian honey samples from urban and mountainous zones, and to determine whether geographical origin constitutes a determinant of bioactive compound accumulation and functional quality.

Materials and Methods: Sixteen honey samples were collected from apiaries located in different provinces of Algeria and classified into urban (n=8) and mountainous (n=8) zones. Physicochemical parameters, including moisture content, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, and total soluble solids, were assessed in accordance with international standards. Sugar composition was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while antioxidant potential was characterized through Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), DPPH radical-scavenging activity, and the CUPRAC and FRAP assays. Statistical comparisons between groups were performed employing independent two-sample Student's t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between phenolic content and antioxidant capacity.

Results: All samples met Codex Alimentarius standards for moisture (mean: 16.0%) and free acidity, indicating appropriate maturity and freshness. No statistically significant differences were observed between urban and mountainous honeys with respect to physicochemical or sugar parameters (p > 0.05). Geographical zone, however, proved to be a strong determinant of bioactive quality. Mountainous honeys exhibited significantly higher Total Flavonoid Content (31.14 ± 7.36 vs. 18.65 ± 9.01 mg QE/100g, p = 0.0089), and Total Phenolic Content (68.97 ± 14.10 vs. 32.61 ± 13.14 mg GAE/100g, p = 0.0001), as well as superior antioxidant activity, as measured by CUPRAC (531.45 ± 102.63 vs. 267.08 ± 99.60 µmol Trolox/100g, p = 0.0001), FRAP (431.10 ± 79.53 vs. 269.65 ± 55.95 µmol FeSO₄·7H₂O/100g, p = 0.0003), and DPPH IC₅₀ (55.97 ± 8.56 vs. 92.15 ± 13.80 mg/mL, p < 0.0001). Correlation analysis revealed a highly strong negative correlation between TPC and DPPH IC₅₀ (r = -0.92, p < 0.0001), and strong positive correlations between TPC and CUPRAC (r = 0.87, p < 0.0001) and FRAP (r = 0.81, p < 0.0001), confirming phenolic compounds as the primary drivers of antioxidant activity.

Conclusions: Although urban honeys demonstrated good physicochemical quality and met international standards, the mountainous environment significantly favored the accumulation of bioactive compounds and conferred superior antioxidant capacity. These findings reinforce geographical zone as a robust marker for the functional value of Algerian honey. Future studies should systematically record botanical origin, season, and provenance alongside physicochemical and antioxidant measurements in order to further elucidate the determinants of honey quality.