Assessment of Colour Intensity, Polyphenol Contents and Antibacterial Capacity of Sahara Honeys Produced by Apis mellifera

Sahara honey samples from Algeria were screened for total phenolic contents by Folin Ciocalteau method and colour characteristics.Two different assays were performed to evaluate the antibacterial capacity of the honey samples: agar-well diffusion and Growth inhibition %.Total phenolic content varied from 0.620 to 1.044 mg/100 g honey as gallic acid equivalent.The colour of the Sahara honeys, analysed in this study was very variable and ranged from pale yellow to dark brown.In the antibacterial tests using two bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosawere moderately sensitive to honey samples. There was no correlation between antibacterial activity and total phenolic contents