Antioxidant profile of strawberry tree honey and its marker homogentisic acid in several models of oxidative stress

► Strawberry tree honey protected in DPPH/FRAP tests, and cholesterol from degradation. ► Homogentisic acid, main phenolic compound of strawberry tree honey. ► The phenol protected in DPPH/FRAP tests, and cholesterol/fatty acids from oxidation. ► Homogentisic acid showed no toxicity and passive diffusion in Caco-2 cell monolayers. ► Contribution of homogentisic acid to antioxidant activity of strawberry tree honey.