In honey, the content of proteins, including the enzymes, is relatively low and has a minor nutritive significance. On the other hand, the proteins, including the enzymes, are usually used as honey quality evaluation parameters. This is because protein content and enzyme activities vary regarding the botanical origin of the honey. Since the results of protein content, glucose-oxidase, and acid phosphatase, for honeys produced in Croatia, are not available, four of the most abundant honey types produced in Croatia (black locust, sage, chestnut, and honeydew honey) are characterised according to the protein and proline content and enzyme activities. The characterisation was done to determine specificities and contribute to the characterisation of unifloral honeys. Dark honey types (honeydew and chestnut honey) had a higher proline content, and diastase, invertase, and glucose-oxidase activity than lighter sage and black locust honey. Black locust honey has a naturally low enzyme activity and showed the highest acid phosphatase activity among the analysed honey types, while honeydew honey, otherwise known to possess high proline content and enzyme activity, had a low protein content comparable to black locust honey. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between all analysed parameters, with the exception of acid phosphatase activity.

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Interactions with dietary fibers in the gastrointestinal tract might affect the potential bioactivities of phenolic compounds. In this study, the interactions between apple phenolic compounds and β-glucan (a dietary fiber) were studied by studying the adsorption process in simulated gastric and intestinal fluid electrolyte solutions. Phenolic compounds were extracted from apples, adsorbed onto β-glucan (2 h, 37 °C, in gastric or intestinal fluid electrolyte solutions), and determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Phenolic compounds (flavan-3-ols, flavonols, phenolic acids, and dihydrochalcone) were stable in the gastric fluid (pH 3). In the intestinal fluid (pH 7), flavan-3-ols were not found and chlorogenic acid isomerized. Polyphenols from the apple peel (up to 182 and 897 mg g⁻¹) and flesh (up to 28 and 7 mg g⁻¹) were adsorbed onto β-glucan in the gastric and intestinal fluids, respectively. The adsorption was affected by the initial concentration of the polyphenols and β-glucan and by the environment (either gastric or intestinal fluid electrolyte solution). By increasing the initial polyphenol amount, the quantity of adsorbed polyphenols increased. Increasing the amount of β-glucan decreased the amount adsorbed. The results can be helpful in explaining the fate of phenolic compounds in the gastrointestinal tract.