Characteristic Properties of Spurge (Euphorbia macroclada Boiss.) Honey in Diyarbakır Region

Abstract

Sütleğen otu veya bitkisi (Euphorbia macroclada Bois.) ülkemizde yaygın olarak yetişen otsu bir bitki tür olup, her sütleğen otu bal nektar üretmez. Halk arasında sütlüce otu olarak da bilinen bu zehirli bitki, zehirli olmayan nektarlara sahiptir. Ülkemizde en yoğun olarak Güney Doğu Anadolu bölgesinde özellikle Diyarbakır ve Adıyaman bölgelerinde Ağustos ve Eylül aylarında üretilen sütleğen balı (haşul balı) apiterapik bal olarak çok değişik amaçlar için kullanılmaktadır. Mercimek ve nohut hasatından boş kalan tarlalarda yetişen sütleğen çiçeklerinden üretilmektedir. Sütleğen nektarına göre amber renginden oldukça koyu renge kadar değişen renk ve tatlardaki bu bal, oldukça vizkoz, kolay kristalize olmayan, hafif eksimsi bir tada ve aromaya sahiptir. Yapılan bu çalışmada ile ilk kez sütleğen balının bazı fiziko-kimyasal ve antioksidan özellikleri araştırıldı. Çiçek ballarınna göre daha yüksek Fruktoz/Glukoz oranı (1.4-1.7) ve yüksek fenolik madde miktarı (56-82 mg gallik asit (GAE/100 g) ve yüksek antioksidan kapasiteye ile apiterapötik değeri yüksek ballardan biridir. Ancak, yapılacak daha ileri çalışmalar bu balın gerçek biyolojik aktif değerini ortaya çıkaracaktır.

Full text

Journal of Apitherapy and Nature/Apiterapi ve Doğa Dergisi, 3(1), 37-43, 2020
Apiterapi ve Doğa Dergisi
Journal of Apitherapy and Nature
www.dergipark.gov.tr/jan
37
Characteristic Properties of Spurge (Euphorbia macroclada Boiss.) Honey in
Diyarbakır Region
Diyarbakır Yöresinde Sütleğen (Euphorbia macroclada Boiss.) Balının Karakteristik
Özellikleri
Yakup KARA1, Ceren Didar BIRINCI2, Esra BIRINCI2, Zehra CAN3
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
yaakupkara@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0003-3121-5023
2Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
cerendidar.birinci@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0002-0167-6809
birinci.esra@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0002-0998-0661
3Department of Emergency Aid and Disaster Management, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Bayburt University, Bayburt, Turkey
*zehracan61@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0002-7156-4941
Received/Geliş Tarihi: 11/06/2020, Accepted/ Kabul Tarihi: 24/08/2020 doi:10.35206/jan.751006
*Corresponding author /Yazışılan yazar e-ISSN: 2667-4734
Abstract
Özet
Spurge or euphorbia (Euphorbia macroclada
Bois.), named also sütleğen or haşul is
herbaceous plant species that grows widely in
Turkey, but not every produces honey nectar in
everywhere. Although this plant is poisonous,
honey with very good taste and aroma is not
toxic. It is produced from spurge flowers grown
in fields left empty from lentil and chickpea
harvest. The honey is harvested in August and
September especially Diyarbakır and Adıyaman
regions in South East Anatolia is used for many
different purposes. This rather viscos honey has
amber and dark amber colors and interesting
flavors and taste and is not easily crystallized. In
this study, some physico-chemical and
antioxidant properties of spurge honey were
investigated for the first time. It is one of the
honeys with higher apitherapeutic value with
higher Fructose / Glucose ratio (1.4-1.7) and high
phenolic content (56-82 mg gallic acid (GAE/100
g) and high antioxidant capacity than flower
honeys. However, further studies will reveal the
true biological active value of this honey.
Sütleğen otu veya bitkisi (Euphorbia macroclada
Bois.) Türkiye’de yaygın olarak yetişen otsu bir
bitki tür olup, her sütleğen otu bal nektar üretmez.
Bu bitki zehirli olmasına rağmen, çok iyi tadı ve
aroması olan bal toksik değildir. Mercimek ve
nohut hasatından boş kalan tarlalarda
kendiliğinden yetişen sütleğen çiçeklerinden
üretilmektedir. Bal Ağustos ve Eylül aylarında
hasat edilir, özellikle Güneydoğu Anadolu'daki
Diyarbakır ve Adıyaman bölgeleri birçok farklı
amaçla kullanılmaktadır. Sütleğen nektarına göre
amber renginden oldukça koyu renge kadar
değişen renk ve tatlardaki bu bal, oldukça vizkoz,
kolay kristalize olmayan, hafif ekşimsi bir tada ve
aromaya sahiptir. Yapılan bu çalışmada ile ilk kez
sütleğen balının bazı fiziko-kimyasal ve
antioksidan özellikleri araştırıldı. Çiçek
ballarınna göre daha yüksek Fruktoz/Glukoz
oranı (1.4-1.7) ve yüksek fenolik madde miktarı
(56-82 mg gallik asit (GAE/100 g) ve yüksek
antioksidan kapasiteye ile apiterapötik değeri
yüksek ballardan biridir. Ancak, yapılacak daha
ileri çalışmalar bu balın gerçek biyolojik aktif
değerini ortaya çıkaracaktır.

Journal of Apitherapy and Nature/Apiterapi ve Doğa Dergisi, 3(1), 37-43, 2020
Y. KARA, C.D. BIRINCI, E. BIRINCI, Z.CAN
38
Keywords: Spurge (euphorbia), honey,
polyphenol, antioxidant
Anahtar kelimeler: Sütleğen (euphorbia), bal,
polifenol, antioksidan
Abbreviations: GAE, Gallic acid equivalent
1. INTRODUCTION
Bee products such as honey, pollen, and propolis
are natural products that are produced both for
nutritional and choline health of honeybees
(Baltas, Yildiz & Kolayli, 2016). Honey is a sweet
mixture of honeybees' plants that make sugar
mixes from flowers and secretions by transforming
them with body secretions. It is produced from two
different sources as flower and honeydew. Flower
honeys, on the other hand, are honey composed of
flower nectars and are produced monofloral and
heterofloral. Turkey is the second country of the
world about honey production. Due to its
geographical structure and climatic conditions, it
hosts many honey plants (Kolayli, Sahin, Can,
Yildiz & Sahin, 2016; Kolayli, Can, Çakir, Okan
& Yildiz, 2018). Euphorbia or spurge honey is one
of the rare unifloral honey produced and it is
mostly produced in in the south-eastern Anatolia
region, especially in Diyarbakır and Adıyaman
province in August and September (Figure 1). The
sensory properties of honey are quite different
from flower heads, they have a slightly cloudy
appearance, darkening color and unique aromatic
properties. Since the production of spurge honey
varies depending on the season, it is a honey that
is not produced regularly every year. Euphorbia is
a grass that grows mostly from lentil and chickpea
harvest, and honey production increases in
especially dry seasons. This honey, which is very
valuable among the people of the region, uses it
especially in infertility treatment, eye
inflammation and wound treatments. The area of
people consumes the honey mostly for infertility
treatment, eye inflammation and wound treatments
etc., for apitherapeutic purposes. This honey also
is produced as rare honeys in Mediterranean
region countries such as Lebanon, Morocco,
Algeria and also rare honey (Bettar et al. 2019). In
a reported case report study of spurge honey, it was
reported that it was used for the treatment of
wounds after surgery and that the cow recovered
in a short time (Khiati et al. 2013).
Figure 1. Euphorbia macroclada Boiss
The aim of this study was evaluated characteristics
properties of Spurge honey around of the
Diyarbakir and Adıyaman where produced in
abundant of Turkey.

Journal of Apitherapy and Nature/Apiterapi ve Doğa Dergisi, 3(1), 37-43, 2020
Y. KARA, C.D. BIRINCI, E. BIRINCI, Z.CAN
39
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ten honey samples were harvested in Diyarbakır
and Adıyaman region by the experienced
beekeepers (Mr. Mehmet Bayram) by Diyarbakır
Beekeepers Association in August 2018. For
determination of botanical origin of the honeys
melissopalynological analyses were performed by
microscopically (Louveaux, Maurizio & Vorwohl,
1978). According to the counting results, the
pollen rates were determined and rates were
dominant pollen (45% and more), secondary
pollen (16–44%), minor pollen (3–15%), trace
pollen (3% and less).
2.1. Physicochemical Properties
Some of the physicochemical properties of
moisture, optic rotation, electrical conductivity
and brix of the honey samples were analyses by
methods of International Honey Commission rules
(IHC) (Bogdanov, Martin & Lullmann, 2002).
Proline content was measured by 201, UV-VIS
spectrophotometer, USA) was determined. Sugar
analysis of samples, HPLC (Elite LaChrom,
Hitachi, Japan) and a reverse phase-amide column
(200 /4.6 Fracture detector containing Nucleosil
100-5 NH2) (RID) (Can et al. 2015). Before
analyzed of total phenolic amount of total
antioxidant capacities of the samples honey
samples were extracted. For this extraction
process, 10 g of honey sample weighed into falcon
tube (50 mL) room for 24 hours to prepare for
analysis by adding 99% ethanol at temperature (30
mL) shaken (Heidolph Promax 2020, Schwabach,
Germany), filtered from ordinary filter paper and
stored.
2.2. Total phenolic and flavonoid content
Total phenolic contents of the honey sample were
measured by Folin Ciocalteu method (Singleton,
Orthofer & Lamuela-Raventós, 1999). Total
phenolic substance is a method that includes all the
polyphenols in solution such as flavonoids,
stilbenes, anthocyanins, tannins etc. Gallic acid
was used phenolic standard and absorbance was
read at 760 nm and results gallic acid equivalent
expressed in mg gallic acid (GAE) / 100g.
Total flavonoid substance was used according to
Fukumoto and Mazza (2000). Total flavonoid
amount as quercetin equivalent as mg quercetin
(QE/100 g honey).
2.3. Total Antioxidant Capacity (FRAP)
Total antioxidant capacity of the sample was
measured Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay
and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The assay
is based on the reduction of Fe (III) in the presence
of an antioxidant substance in the (Fe (III) -TPTZ-
2,4,6-tris (2-pyridly)–S-triazin) complex (Benzie
and Strain, 1996). Variable concentrations of
FeSO4.7H2O (from 31.25 to 1000 μM) were used
as standard and blue color of product was
measured at 593 nm.
DPPH radical is a synthetic and commercially
purchased radical and is used as a model. This
method is based on the investigation of the change
in absorbance by reducing the purple DPPH
radical by an oxidizing antioxidant. The reaction is

Journal of Apitherapy and Nature/Apiterapi ve Doğa Dergisi, 3(1), 37-43, 2020
Y. KARA, C.D. BIRINCI, E. BIRINCI, Z.CAN
40
followed by measuring. Antioxidant activity 50% reduction of initial
DPPH concentration expressing the amounts of antioxidants spent for the
SC50 (mg/mL) (Molyneux, 2004).
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Physicochemical properties and melissopalynological analysis are given
in Table 1. As a result of the melisopalinological analysis, it was
determined that the honey has big euphoric honey and the pollen content
varies between 42% and 78% (Tüylü et al., 2007). These values are an
important indicator that honey is unifloral honey. The honey samples
contained moisture between 16 and 16.60 and the lower moisture supplied
the honey long shelf life. Electrical conductivity values were changed also
narrow boarders between 0.30 and 0.32 mS/cm and the values were
similar to the type of blossom honeys and were found acceptable limits of
the honey codex (Can et al. 2015; Malkoç et al. 2019b). Optical rotation
values of the honeys were highly negative, that indicate the samples were
blossom honeys. Many studies were shown that dew honeys optical
rotation is positive such as pine honey, oak honey etc. (Can et al. 2015;
Serrano et al. 2019).
The mean proline value of the honey was 540 mg/kg and changed from
380 and 650 mg/kg and proline is a crucial quality parameter of honey
and expresses its purity. The average proline value in spurge honeys to be
higher than many honeys.
Table 1. Physicochemical analyses of Spurge honey from Diyarbakır region.
The majority of honey is made up of sugar, and honey's major sugars are
fructose and glucose. The study revealed that the fructose value of spurge
honey varies between 38% and 40%. The glucose value varied between
22% and 25%, while the mean value was found to be 23. The average
fructose / glucose ratio of 1.70 is an important indicator that honey does
not crystallize easily (Can et al. 2015; Malkoç et al. 2019b). Honey with
a high F / G ratio is crystallized late. In a study was determined that F /
G ratio as 1.46 of Jerusalem Thorn honey (Malkoç et al. 2019). The
honeys with high F /G ratio have low glycemic index values and it seems
min
Max
mean
Recommended (IHC /
http://www.ihc-
platform.net/publications
% Euphorbiaceae
42
78
61
-
Ph
4.20
4.60
4.36±0.30
Moisture
15.00
16.60
16.00±0.40
Max.20
Conductivity
(mS/cm)
0.30
0.33
0.30±0.05
Min.0.30
Optic rotation
 α 20
-3,30
-4,76
-3,90
- blossom, + dew
HMF (mg/kg)
Not
detected
2.60
-
40 mg/kg
Proline (mg/kg)
380
650
540±39
Min.300 (TSE).
Fructose%
38.10
40,27
40,00
Max.42
Glucose%
22,30
25,16
23,20
Min.20
Sucrose%
-
3,17
1,56
max.5
Maltose%
-
1,50
0,50
Max.4

Journal of Apitherapy and Nature/Apiterapi ve Doğa Dergisi, 3(1), 37-43, 2020
Y. KARA, C.D. BIRINCI, E. BIRINCI, Z.CAN
41
that the spurge honey is an ideal honey for the use
of diabetic patients (Atayoglu et al. 2016). Sucrose
was only detected in one honey sample of in 3%.
Maltose also was found only one samples at 1.5%.
HMF is a Maillard reaction product, responsible
for the freshness of honey and whether it is
subjected to heat treatment. The very low HMF
value indicates that honey is raw honey, indicating
a fresh honey (Turgut et al. 2018).
The agents responsible for the biological activity
of honey are mostly polyphenols. The amounts of
polyphenols in honey determines the color, odor,
aroma and antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-
inflammatory etc. properties of honey (Kara, Can
& Kolaylı, 2019; Saral, 2018). The study shows
that the total amount of phenolic substance of
spurge honey varies between 56 and 102 mg
GAE/100 g Table 2. There are many studies
showed that the honey becomes darker as the
polyphenol content increases. Chestnut honey,
heather and oak honey are dark honeys, total
polyphenol contents are approximately 100 mg
GAE / 100 g. In this study, the color of spurge
honey was not measured, but it is a dark honey
compared to flower honeys (Can et al. 2015).
While the total flavonoid amount was below the
determination limits, a maximum of 1.55 mg was
detected.
Total antioxidant capacity of honey was
determined according to FRAP and DPPH radical
scavenging activity methods. The results are given
in Table 2. It was found that FRAP value ranged
between 318 and 486 (µmol FeSO4.7H2O/100g
and the average value was 360 (µmol
FeSO4.7H2O/100g.
Table 2. Antioxidant capacity of Spurge honey from
Diyarbakır region.
Min
max
Mean
Total phenolic content
(TPC) mg GA/100 g
56
82
72±11.30
Total flavonoid content
(TFC) mg QU/100 g
-
1.55
-
Ferric reducing
antioxidant power
FRAP
(µmol FeSO4.7H2O/100g)
318
486
360±56.30
DPPH radical scavenging
activity (mg/ml)
28
32
30.20±3.60
Comparing FRAP values with other flowers and
secretion honeys in the literature, it was found
remarkable with the high antioxidant capacity of
spurge honey (Can et al. 2015; Malkoç et al.
2019a). As a result of the radical scavenging
activity measured in terms of the amount of honey
that scavenge or neutralizes 50% of the DPPH
radical, the honey is a good radical cleaning agent.
The low value here always reflects the ability to
clean the high DPPH radical. The best activity was
28 mg / mL, while the lowest was 32 mg / mL in
the spurge honeys. When compared these values
with the data in the literature, it was found that
acacia honey was 150 mg / mL (Can et al. 2015)
Anzer honey (49 mg /mL), mutliflower honey (98
mg/mL) (Saral, 2018).
4. CONCLUSION
As a result, spurge honey is a honey with high
phenolic content, sugar composition and high
fructose ratio, especially antidiabetic potential, but
it is necessary to investigate the phenolic

Journal of Apitherapy and Nature/Apiterapi ve Doğa Dergisi, 3(1), 37-43, 2020
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composition and other biological properties of
honey.
Acknowledgments: We are thanks to Diyarbakır
Beekepers Union (Fahri Saylak and Mehmet
Bayram) who are supplied the honey samples for
investigations. Also, thanks to Prof. Dr. Sevgi
KOLAYLI for encouraging this research.
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