Evaluation of Herbal Honey with Black Cumin and Curcuma xanthorriza as an Antioxidant Supplement for Stunting Prevention
Abstract
Introduction: Honey has been widely used as a nutritional supplement and medicine. Many herbal honey products are developed as nutritional supplements that are combined with SFM to make them more effective, but there are still many shortcomings due to the unpleasant taste produced, unattractive physical appearance, and high susceptibility to oxidation reactions that cause severe damage to the quality of honey, especially in the content of active substances, viscosity, and pH, which can cause the effectiveness of honey to decrease and result in product failure as nutritional supplements to treat stunting problems. We have developed an herbal honey multi-nutrient supplement that combines honey with black cumin oil and Curcuma xanthorriza extract called HBCX. Adding Curcuma xanthorriza extract and black cumin oil to honey is expected to increase honey's benefits as an antioxidant. This study aims to determine the physicochemical characteristics (pH and viscosity), heavy metal contamination content, polyphenols, and antioxidant activity.
Methods: This experimental laboratory research was conducted at the Pharmacy Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy, UAD. The viscosity and pH of HBCX were observed using an Ostwald viscometer and a pH meter. Total phenol determined by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and gallic acid standard. Determination of antioxidant activity using the DPPH method. The data are presented in a quantitative descriptive manner and matched with the SNI honey standard.
Results: The results showed that HBCX herbal honey had a higher viscosity than the sampled honey from the market but was still lower than the SNI requirements. HBCX honey has a lower pH than sample honey products from the market but still complies with national standards. HBCX honey is safe from heavy metal contamination and contains polyphenols. The antioxidant activity of HBCX honey is relatively high, with IC50=54.78 ppm.
Conclusion: HBCX has high polyphenol content, is safe from heavy metal contamination, and has sufficient antioxidant activity.
References
Koulis GA, Tsagkaris AS, Aalizadeh R, Dasenaki ME, Panagopoulou EI, Drivelos S, et al. Honey phenolic compound profiling and authenticity assessment using hrms targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Molecules. 2021;26(2769): 2–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092769.
Cianciosi D, Forbes-Hernández TY, Afrin S, Gasparrini M, Reboredo-Rodriguez P, Manna PP, et al. Phenolic Compounds in Honey and Their Associated Health Bene?ts: A Review. Molecules. 2018;23(2322): 2–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23092322.
Pereira JR, André AN, de Oliveira FC, Silva VRO, David GF, Da Silva JG, et al. Physical-chemical characterization of commercial honeys from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Food Bioscience. 2020;36(100644): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2020.100644.
Ghramh HA, Ibrahim EH, Ahmad Z. Antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and cytotoxic activities of green synthesized nanoparticles from Acacia honey and Calotropis procera. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2021;28(6): 3367–3373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.085.
Nugraha RV, Ridwansyah H, Ghozali M, Khairani AF, Atik N. Traditional Herbal Medicine Candidates as Complementary Treatments for COVID-19: A Review of Their Mechanisms, Pros and Cons. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2020;2020: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2560645.
ElBahr S, Taha N, Korshom M, Mandour A, Lebda M. Influence of Combined Administration of Turmeric and Black seed on Selected Biochemical Parameters of Diabetic Rats. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences. 2014;41(1): 19–27. https://doi.org/10.5455/ajvs.154650.
Abd Jalil MA, Kasmuri AR, Hadi H. Stingless bee honey, the natural wound healer: A review. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. 2017;30(2): 66–75. https://doi.org/10.1159/000458416.
Hardia L, Akrom A, Sulistyani N. Correlation between hemoglobin levels and incidence of stunted children in Sorong Regency. Bali Medical Journal. 2024;13(3): 1403–1406. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15562/bmj.v13i3.4956.
Lowe C, Kelly M, Sarma H, Richardson A, Kurscheid JM, Laksono B, et al. The double burden of malnutrition and dietary patterns in rural Central Java, Indonesia. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 2021;14(2021): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100205.
Hadisuyitno J, Doddy Riyadi B. Determinant Factors of Stunting Events of Toddler in Batu City Indonesia. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy. 2021;12(1): 231–234. https://doi.org/https://dx.doi.org/10.31838/srp.2021.1.37.
Argaw D, Hussen Kabthymer R, Endale T, Wudneh A, Daniel Meshesha M, Tadesse Hirbu J, et al. Stunting and associated factors among primary school children in Ethiopia: School-based cross-sectional study. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences. 2022;17(100451): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2022.100451.
Khan Mirzaei M, Khan MAA, Ghosh P, Taranu ZE, Taguer M, Ru J, et al. Bacteriophages Isolated from Stunted Children Can Regulate Gut Bacterial Communities in an Age-Specific Manner. Cell Host and Microbe. 2020;27(2): 199–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2020.01.004.
Altay O, Nielsen J, Uhlen M, Boren J, Mardinoglu A. Systems biology perspective for studying the gut microbiota in human physiology and liver diseases. EBioMedicine. 2019;49(2019): 364–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.09.057.
Parida S, Sharma D. The power of small changes: Comprehensive analyses of microbial dysbiosis in breast cancer. Biochimic Biophysi Acta Rev Cancer. 2019;1871(2): 392–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbcan.2019.04.001.
Sah OP, Vyas P, Shrestha D. Determination of nutrient adequacy of the food catered in the child care homes (CCHs) of Sunsari district. Clinical Nutrition Experimental. 2019;23: 23–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yclnex.2018.11.001.
Tanaka J, Yoshizawa K, Hirayama K, Karama M, Wanjihia V, Changoma MS, et al. Relationship between dietary patterns and stunting in preschool children: a cohort analysis from Kwale, Kenya. Public Health. 2019;173: 58–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2019.05.013.
Ghasemi HA, Kasani N, Taherpour K. Effects of black cumin seed (Nigella sativa L.), a probiotic, a prebiotic and a synbiotic on growth performance, immune response and blood characteristics of male broilers. Livestock Science. 2014;164(1): 128–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2014.03.014.
Zam W. Gut Microbiota as a Prospective Therapeutic Target for Curcumin: A Review of Mutual Influence. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2018;2018: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1367984.
Lima WG, Brito JCM, da Cruz Nizer WS. Bee products as a source of promising therapeutic and chemoprophylaxis strategies against COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Phytotherapy Research. 2021;35(2): 743–750. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6872.
Hidayati T, Akrom A, Apriani L, Indrayanti, Sun S. Study of Black Cumin Seed Oil (BCSO) (Nigella sativa L.) as an Immunomodulator in the Healthy Active Smoker Volunteer. In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. IOP Publishing Ltd; 2021. p. 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/810/1/012036.
Khan SU, Anjum SI, Ansari MJ, Khan MHU, Kamal S, Rahman K, et al. Antimicrobial potentials of medicinal plant’s extract and their derived silver nanoparticles: A focus on honey bee pathogen. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2019;26(7): 1815–1834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.02.010.
Aljohar HI, Maher HM, Albaqami J, Al-Mehaizie M, Orfali R, Orfali R, et al. Physical and chemical screening of honey samples available in the Saudi market: An important aspect in the authentication process and quality assessment. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal. 2018;26(7): 932–942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2018.04.013.
Khan SU, Anjum SI, Rahman K, Ansari MJ, Khan WU, Kamal S, et al. Honey: Single food stuff comprises many drugs. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2018. p. 320–325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.08.004.
Khan SU, Anjum SI, Ansari MJ, Khan MHU, Kamal S, Rahman K, et al. Antimicrobial potentials of medicinal plant’s extract and their derived silver nanoparticles: A focus on honey bee pathogen. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2019;26(7): 1815–1834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.02.010.
Ismail HF, Hashim Z, Soon WT, Rahman NSA, Zainudin AN, Majid FAA. Comparative study of herbal plants on the phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activities and toxicity on cells and zebrafish embryo. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2017;7(4): 452–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.12.006.
Kumar GM, Neelam I, Ajitha A, MaheswawaRao VU. Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: An Overview. 2014; 470–477. http://www.ijpra.com/File_Folder/470-477(ijpra).pdf
Wagle SA, Jain D, Rathod S, Athawale R, Bajaj A. Development and Validation of Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy [ICP-AES] Analytical Method for Estimation of Cisplatin in Biological Samples. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. 2017;51(4): S783–S789. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijper.51.4s.113.
Chen Y, Li C, Duan S, Yuan X, Liang J, Hou S. Curcumin attenuates potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia and kidney inflammation in mice. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. 2019;118(109195): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109195.
Alafiatayo AA, Syahida A, Mahmood M. Total anti-oxidant capacity, flavonoid, phenolic acid and polyphenol content in ten selected species of Zingiberaceae rhizomes. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines: AJTCAM / African Networks on Ethnomedicines. 2014;11(3): 7–13. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v11i3.2.
Lichota A, Gwozdzinski L, Gwozdzinski K. Therapeutic potential of natural compounds in inflammation and chronic venous insufficiency. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2019;176: 68–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.04.075.
Fusi J, Bianchi S, Daniele S, Pellegrini S, Martini C, Galetta F, et al. An in vitro comparative study of the antioxidant activity and SIRT1 modulation of natural compounds. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy. 2018;101: 805–819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.006.
Silva TMS, dos Santos FP, Evangelista-Rodrigues A, da Silva EMS, da Silva GS, de Novais JS, et al. Phenolic compounds, melissopalynological, physicochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of jandaíra (Melipona subnitida) honey. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2013;29(1): 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2012.08.010.
Truong VL, Jeong WS. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory roles of tea polyphenols in inflammatory bowel diseases. Food Science and Human Wellness. 2022;11: 502–511.
Petrullo L, Baniel A, Jorgensen MJ, Sams S, Snyder-Mackler N, Lu A. The early life microbiota mediates maternal effects on offspring growth in a nonhuman primate. iScience. 2022;25(103948): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.103948.
Fraga CG, Croft KD, Kennedy DO, Tomás-Barberán FA. The effects of polyphenols and other bioactives on human health. Food and Function. 2019;10(2): 514–528. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8fo01997e.
Morais MB de, Silva GAP da. Environmental enteric dysfunction and growth. Jornal de Pediatria. 2019;95: 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2018.11.004.
Ecklu-Mensah G, Gilbert J, Devkota S. Dietary Selection Pressures and Their Impact on the Gut Microbiome. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CMGH). 2022;13(1): 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.07.009.
El Basuini MF, Zaki MAA, El-Hais AM, Elhanafy MG, El-Bilawy EH, Zaineldin AI, et al. Microbial, immune and antioxidant responses of Nile tilapia with dietary nano-curcumin supplements under chronic low temperatures. Aquaculture and Fisheries. 2024;9(1): 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaf.2022.03.011.
Monira S, Nakamura S, Gotoh K, Izutsu K, Watanabe H, Alam NH, et al. Gut microbiota of healthy and malnourished children in Bangladesh. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2011;2(228): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2011.00228.
Wi?ckowska-Gacek A, Mietelska-Porowska A, Wydrych M, Wojda U. Western diet as a trigger of Alzheimer’s disease: From metabolic syndrome and systemic inflammation to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Ageing Research Reviews. 2021;70(101397): 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2021.101397.
Yuan T, Yang T, Chen H, Fu D, Hu Y, Wang J, et al. New insights into oxidative stress and inflammation during diabetes mellitus-accelerated atherosclerosis. Redox Biology. 2019;20: 247–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2018.09.025.
Wongkrasant P, Pongkorpsakol P, Chitwattananont S, Satianrapapong W, Tuangkijkul N, Muanprasat C. Fructo-oligosaccharides alleviate inflammation-associated apoptosis of GLP-1 secreting L cells via inhibition of iNOS and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2020;143(2): 65–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphs.2020.03.001.
Sivieri K, de Oliveira SM, Marquez A de S, Pérez-Jiménez J, Diniz SN. Insights on ?-glucan as a prebiotic coadjuvant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: A review. Food Hydrocolloids for Health. 2022;2(100056): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fhfh.2022.100056.
Abd El-Maksoud AM, Khairy SA, Sharada HM, Abdalla MS, Ahmed NF. Evaluation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in nutritionally stunted Egyptian children. Egyptian Pediatric Association Gazette. 2017;65(3): 80–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epag.2017.04.003.
van den Heuvel M. Metabolomics, stunting and neurodevelopment. EBioMedicine. 2019;44: 10–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.05.067.
Borja Fajardo JG, Horta Tellez HB, Peñaloza Atuesta GC, Sandoval Aldana AP, Mendez Arteaga JJ. Antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content and methylxantine ratio in four materials of Theobroma cacao L. from Tolima, Colombia. Heliyon. 2022;8(5): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09402.
Rudrapal M, Khairnar SJ, Khan J, Dukhyil A Bin, Ansari MA, Alomary MN, et al. Dietary Polyphenols and Their Role in Oxidative Stress-Induced Human Diseases: Insights Into Protective Effects, Antioxidant Potentials and Mechanism(s) of Action. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022;13(806470): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.806470.
Vonghirundecha P, Chusri S, Meunprasertdee P, Kaewmanee T. Microencapsulated functional ingredients from a Moringa oleifera leaf polyphenol-rich extract: Characterization, antioxidant properties, in vitro simulated digestion, and storage stability. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 2022;154(112820): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.112820.
Salinas-Roca B, Rubió-Piqué L, Montull-López A. Polyphenol Intake in Pregnant Women on Gestational Diabetes Risk and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Offspring: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2022;14(3753): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14183753.
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Public Health and Pharmacy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Journal of Public Health and Pharmacy retain the copyright of their work. The journal applies a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0), which grants the following rights:
-
Copyright Retention: Authors retain the copyright of their work, maintaining full control over their intellectual property without restrictions.
-
Right of First Publication: Authors grant the journal the right of first publication of their work. This ensures that the work is initially published and credited in Journal of Public Health and Pharmacy.
-
License to Share and Reuse: The work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, allowing others to copy, distribute, remix, and build upon the work for any purpose, even commercially, as long as proper credit is given to the authors, and any new creations are licensed under the same terms.
