Metabolic profiling and evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Apis cerana cerana Honey from Sansha City, Hainan Province, China

Honey has been recognized for its role in disease prevention through nutritional modulation. In this study, we comprehensively assessed the physicochemical parameters, metabolic profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of multifloral honeys produced by Apis cerana cerana in Sansha City (SS), Hainan Province. Metabolomic analysis identified SS honey had multiple bioactive compounds known for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Compared to A. cerana cerana honey from central regions of Hainan Province, SS honey showed higher levels of TFC (113.80 mg RE/100 g) and TPC (45.86 mg GAE/100 g). Furthermore, SS honey demonstrated greater antioxidant activity, as evidenced by FRAP (1503.16 μmol TE/kg), DPPH IC 50 (36.13 mg/mL), and ABTS IC 50 (11.03 mg/mL). SS honey significantly reduced the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells, along with suppressing the mRNA expression of these inflammatory markers.