Phytochemical Profiling, Mineral Analysis, Nutritional Composition, and Bioactivity Assessment of a Commercial Honey-Fortified

Abstract

HM-4 is a commercial polyherbal product used for the treatment of various illnesses, including hypertension and diabetes. It consists of honey and four different medicinal plants; Curcuma longa, Aframomum melegueta, Zingiber officinale and Piper nigrum in various unrevealed proportions. This study aims to determine the phytochemical, proximate and mineral composition, as well as in-vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of HM-4. Phytochemical screening for the presence of bioactive compounds in the HM-4 was performed using standard methods. Proximate and mineral composition were determined using AOAC guidelines and atomic absorption spectrophotometry after wet digestion, respectively. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitric oxide and hydroxyl ion scavenging assays. In-vitro antidiabetic potential was determined using 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) method.

Phytochemical analysis identified several bioactive compounds including flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, tannins and terpenoids. Flavonoids content was 509.6 mg/QE, alkaloid 12.5 mg/100g, total phenolics 0.343 mg/GAE, and tannins 0.378 mg/100g. HM-4  possess good antioxidant property, with IC₅₀ values of 148 and 112 µg/ml for DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. The HM-4 is rich in essential micronutrients, predominantly potassium. Proximate analysis revealed that HM-4 is rich in carbohydrate (89%w/v) and calories (1554%w/v). The HM-4 exhibits in-vitro antidiabetic property, with 57,1% alpha amylase inhibition at extract concentration of 500 µg/ml , indicating its potential as an adjunct in the management of diabetes.

The HM-4 is a valuable source of bioactive compounds and micronutrients, offering significant antioxidants and antidiabetic properties that could be further explored for the development of novel nutraceuticals