HPLC-DAD ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY THE PHENOLIC PROFILE OF RHODODENDRON HONEYS COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS IN TURKEY

In this study, phenolic compounds of Rhododendron honey (also known as mad honey) samples collected from the Black Sea Region were identified using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector system. The major phenolic substances in Rhododendron honeys were found to be chlorogenic and coumaric acids with the amounts of 0.11-191.54 mg/kg and 0-82.83 mg/kg, respectively. Gallic and ferulic acids were detected in the most honey samples. Additionally, significant correlations were determined between the phenolic substances. The present study showed that Rhododendron honeys contained higher quantities of phenolic acids than flavonoids. Chlorogenic and coumaric acids were the dominant phenolic substances detected in honey samples