Metabolomics-driven detection of bioactive metabolites and contaminants in Saudi honey

• Metabolomics is valuable for determining the chemical composition of honey. • This study identified five chemical classes of metabolites. • The metabolites were derived from honeybees, plants, and microbes. • The identified metabolites are known to display a variety of bioactivities Saudi honeys are valued for their medicinal properties, yet their metabolomic profiles remain understudied. This study employed metabolomics to investigate the bioactive compound profiles of Saudi Acacia and Ziziphus honeys. Six authenticated honey samples (three Acacia, three Ziziphus) were analyzed using LC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS. Precursor ion masses were identified via the Metabolomics Workbench. All samples contained a key precursor ions near the 460.0000 M+NH₄⁺ which were proposed to be linked to diverse bioactive classes, including peptides, lipids, phenolics, and terpenes. These profiles suggest potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and other therapeutic properties. Notably, the study also detected a marine lipid contaminant (topsentisterol B3) and a benzoyl-derivative herbicide (DAS869), indicating environmental exposure from nearby agricultural or marine sources. Honey metabolomics is an effective tool for authenticating floral origin, identifying bioactive compounds, and monitoring environmental contaminants.