Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{206126,
        author = {Rama Bhat and Sharda Hiremath},
        title = {Pharmacological and Melissopalynological study of Honey},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {2},
        pages = {1516-1530},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=206126},
        abstract = {This study explored the pharmacological and melissopalynological characteristics of honey obtained from different floral and geographical regions across Karnataka and Kerala, India. Five honey samples were analyzed for their physicochemical and biochemical profiles, including pH, moisture, ash, color, electrical conductivity, and the levels of protein, total sugars, reducing sugars, phenolics, and flavonoids. The antioxidant activity was evaluated through the DPPH radical scavenging assay, while antimicrobial efficiency was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans using the agar well diffusion technique. Pollen analysis was performed to determine the floral origin of each sample. The physicochemical parameters varied notably among the samples, with color ranging from extra light amber to dark amber, pH values between 3.5 and 5.0, and moisture content from 10.02% to 18.05%. The Palakkad sample (T5) exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity (81.57%) and the highest protein concentration (0.8 mg/g), whereas the Yellapura sample (T3) recorded the greatest phenolic content (0.08 mg/g). Antibacterial activity was most prominent in T2 and T3, while T3 also showed considerable antifungal potential. Melissopalynological analysis identified forty-one pollen taxa dominated by the Solanaceae, Brassicaceae, and Asphodelaceae families, indicating a multifloral nature. Overall, the findings emphasize the rich botanical diversity and significant therapeutic potential of regional honeys, supporting their use as safe, natural alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial agents.},
        keywords = {Honey, Melissopalynology, Antibacterial activity, Antifungal activity, Antioxidant, Physicochemical analysis, Bioactive compounds.},
        month = {July},
        }