Effect of Prosopis sp. honey on the growth and fermentative ability of Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus fermentum

•Prosopis sp. honey is an important source of total phenolic compounds and flavonoids.•LAB behave distinctively in presence of honey.•Organic acid production by LAB occurs in honey concentrations up to 25% (w/v).•LAB significantly increase the flavonoid content of Prosopis sp. honey.

Honey is widely known for having antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. These abilities are attributed to honey hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and polyphenols. Polyphenols also exert beneficial effect on some species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). In this study, we evaluate the effect of Prosopis sp. honey on the growth and fermentative activity of Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus fermentum. Prosopis sp. honey was found to be an important source of phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, being their average content superior to other honeys. LAB assessed in this study exhibited different responses to the presence of honey. P. pentosaceus was able to develop in concentrations of honey up to 25% (w/v), whilst L. fermentum showed high sensitivity, being affected both growth and fermentative activity. However, as a result of LAB fermentative capacity, the total phenolic and flavonoid content present in 6.5% (w/v) honey solutions was increased, improving the antioxidant activity of this system.