Microbiological Quality, Physicochemical Properties, and Antioxidant Capacity of Honey Samples Commercialized in the Moroccan Errachidia Region

An examination of possible effect of hot desert climate on microbiological safety and physicochemical and antioxidant properties of honey marketed in the province of Errachidia in Morocco was made. The assessment of microbiological properties showed no alarming sign of microbiological contamination or quality deterioration. This can be seen by the low moisture content in all analysed samples, which was below 20% (the maximum allowed in honey), and acid pH which was raging from 3.32 ± 0.05 to 4.37 ± 0.12. The ash content values ranged between 0.02 ± 0.01% and 0.23 ± 0.001%, and the electrical conductivity ranged between 87.4 ± 0.42 and 1148.06 ± 2.16 mS/cm. Considering the mineral content, the potassium was the most abundant species in all the analysed samples. The phenol content values varied from 17.35 ± 2.15 mg GAE/100 g in H7 to 219.026 ± 2.26 mg GAE/100 g in H9. Similarly, the same behavior was seen in the case of the other bioactive subfamilies of phenolic compound flavonoid content. Hence, the highest value of flavonoids, flavones, and flavanols was detected in H9, and the minimum value was observed in sample H7. A negative correlation was found between the bioactive fraction of honey samples and free radical scavenging activity assessed as IC50, the concentration of honey that scavenges 50% of the used free radicals. The bioactive fraction, the antioxidant assays, and their correlation values showed the same profile in comparison to the honey samples of other Moroccan regions

Ethnobotanic, Ethnopharmacologic Aspects and New Phytochemical Insights into Moroccan Argan Fruits

This review summarizes available data on argan fruit botany, geographical distribution, traditional uses, environmental interest, socioeconomic role, phytochemistry, as well as health beneficial effects and examination of future prospects. In particular, ethnomedical uses of argan fruits are carried out throughout Morocco where it has been used against various diseases. Different classes of bioactive compounds have been characterized including essential oils, fatty acids, triacylglycerols, flavonoids and their newly reported acylglycosyl derivatives, monophenols, phenolic acids, cinnamic acids, saponins, triterpenes, phytosterols, ubiquinone, melatonin, new aminophenols along with vitamin E among other secondary metabolites. The latter have already shown a wide spectrum of in vitro, and ex vivo biologicalactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, anti-hypercholesterolemia, analgesic, antimicrobial, molluscicidal anti-nociceptive and anticancer potential. Argan flesh (pulp) contains a broad spectrum of polyphenolic compounds which may have utility for incorporation into nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals relevant to the food, cosmetic and health industries. Further research is recommended, especially on the health beneficial effects of the aminophenols

HPLC-ESI-MS and GC-EI-MS Identification and Quantitation of Polyphenolics and Alkaloids in Moroccan Jujube Honeys

The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical content of Moroccan Jujube Honey and to establish the principal components of this staple Moroccan food, which contributes health benefit for the local population. Total phytochemical compounds as determined by analytical HPLC-ESI-MS in the honey extracts were 29.39±5.21 mg/kg (range 16.64–42.16) wet weight. The individual phytochemical compounds definitively identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS in the Jujube honeys were the alkaloids: (I) 4-hydroxyquinoline glucoside, (II) 4-hydroxyquinoline and (V) kynurenic acid (17.66±0.87 mg/kg), and the phenolic compounds: (III) p-hydroxybenzoic acid, (IV) caffeic acid and (VI) methyl syringate (11.73±0.50 mg/kg). The structures were confirmed by GC-EI-MS apart from 4-hydroxyquinoline-glucoside. The major components were methyl syringate (8.34±2.49 mg/kg), 4-hydroxyquinoline (6.61±3.23 mg/kg) and kynurenic acid (6.56±0.97 mg/kg). The mean content of polyphenolic compounds (11.73±0.50 mg/kg) of Moroccan Jujube honeys compared favorably with those described for six Chinese Jujube honeys (2.49 mg/kg), five commercial Jujube honeys from different countries (0.92 mg/kg) and twelve Jujube honeys from Yemen (25.71 mg/kg). Reference studies did not identify alkaloids as components of Jujube honey, and therefore the phytochemical profile of Moroccan Jujube honey appears to be unique