Anti-alcoholic effects of honeys from different floral origins and their correlation with honey chemical compositions.

The effects of honeys from different floral origins on alcohol metabolism were compared, and the correlation between their chemical compositions and antialcholic effects was analyzed. The results demonstrated that the five types of investigated honeys from different floral origins had different effects on alcohol metabolism, and the blood alcohol removal rate by these honeys ranged from 18.01% to 49.17%. Ziziphus jujuba honey exhibited the best blood alcohol removal effect, and meanwhile significantly enhanced the activity of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes including alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Chemical composition analysis also showed that honeys from different floral origins were considerably different in the contents of sugars, minerals, ascorbic acid and phenolics. Ziziphus jujuba honey had the highest fructose/glucose ratio, ascorbic acid and phenolics contents, and higher contents of minerals, especially K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn. This chemical composition might contribute to its better anti-alcoholic effect.