Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Casteanea sativa Miller chestnut honey produced on Mount Etna (Sicily)

Chestnut honey from Mount Etna, Sicily, exhibits significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, rivaling those of Manuka honey. The study compared two samples of Castanea sativa Miller monofloral honey for their antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antioxidant activity was assessed using ORAC, NO scavenger assays, FRAP, and DPPH methods. Results showed that Etna chestnut honey outperformed chestnut honeys from other regions in both antioxidant and antimicrobial tests, suggesting its potential as a functional food or natural preservative. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to characterize major components, providing insights into the biochemical basis of these properties.

Ronsisvalle, S., Lissandrello, E., Fuochi, V., Petronio Petronio, G., Straquadanio, C., Crascì, L., Panico, A., Milito, M., Cova, A. M., Tempera, G., & Furneri, P. M. (2017). Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Casteanea sativa Miller chestnut honey produced on Mount Etna (Sicily). Natural Product Research, 33(6), 843–850. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2017.1413568