Physico chemical and bioactive properties of honeys from Northwestern Argentina

Honey is used for its nutritional and functional properties. The Argentinean Northwest is a region with a growing potential for honey production, but up to now, few physicochemical and biological studies have been carried out. The aim of this study is to characterize monofloral (Prosopis sp and Citrus lemon) and multifloral honey samples from the Argentinean Northwest from a physicochemical and functional standpoint. The results showed that the honeys had good properties of stability and freshness. The highest content of flavonoid and phenolic compounds correspond to multifloral honeys. A positive correlation was observed between colour intensity and flavonoid or phenolic compounds content (R² = 0.98 and R² = 0.92, respectively). The flavonoids, chrysin and pinocembrin were present in all samples analyzed, while hesperidin and hesperetin were numerically more important in lemon honey (>1 mg/kg), providing a valuable marker of botanical origin.The highest antioxidant activity against ABTS radical cation was detected in the darkest honey samples. All tested honeys showed antibacterial activity with MIC values between 0.10 and 0.25 g/mL on Gram-positive and Gram-negative antibiotic resistant bacteria. Neither pH nor osmolarity affected bacterial growth. The phenolic compounds and hydrogen peroxide were responsible for antimicrobial activity by bioautographic assays.The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties found in honeys from the Argentinean Northwest make them products of high added value and excellent quality.     

Physicochemical attributes and pollen spectrum of Portuguese heather honeys

The qualities of selected honey samples of “Serra da Lousã” (Portugal) from three consecutive harvests (20 samples from each harvest) were evaluated by determing the pollen spectrum and physicochemical attributes. The following determinations were carried out: moisture, electrical conductivity, hydroxymethylfurfural, diastase activity, pH, acidity (free, lactone and total), formol number, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, insoluble material and ash. The samples were found to meet all major national and international honey specifications. Honeys were considered to be monofloral whenever the dominant pollen was found to be over 45% of total pollen. From the 60 studied samples, 70% were monofloral honeys from Erica sp., 17% monofloral honeys from Ericaceae (Erica sp. and Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull) and 13% multifloral honeys with a high percentage of Erica sp.     

Pollen spectrum and physico‐chemical attributes of heather (Erica sp.) honeys of north Portugal

BACKGROUND: Honey legislation has been addressed to establish the minimum marketing level of the product and the need for consumer protection through correct denominations. Research oriented toward assessment of floral origin and physico‐chemical properties may increase the commercial value of these products. The characteristics of 23 unifloral honeys of Erica sp., from Portugal, were studied. Pollen features and some physicochemical parameters (moisture, ash, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, apparent sucrose, reducing sugars and diastase activity) were determined. RESULTS: All honey samples can be classified as monofloral Erica sp., they gave a mean value of 56% of Erica pollen type. The families Fabaceae and Rosaceae provided the greatest number of pollen types with 8 and 4 pollen types each respectively. The second most important pollen type is Eucalyptus, present in 69.6% of the samples. All honey samples met the international physicochemical quality standards. The present study found a linear correlation (R = 0.996) between the ash content of honeys and their specific conductivity. CONCLUSION: All honey samples can be classified as monofloral Erica sp. Unifloral honeys are increasingly requested and appreciated, despite their higher prices. The samples were found to meet all major international honey specifications. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of inverted saccharose on some properties of honey

In this study, three groups of honey [natural honey; honey produced by the supplementary feeding of bees with saccharose syrup (SSH) and heat and acid (88 °C, 2 h; 0.1% HCl) treated saccharose syrup honey (ISSH)] were produced and physicochemical (water content, pH, free acidity, ash, HMF, diastase activity, sucrose, protein and viscosity), microbiological and sensory properties of these honeys were determined. Also, mineral contents of the honeys were measured. Moisture and ash contents of SSH were higher, acidity level was lower than those of other honeys. The mineral content of natural honey was higher than that of the others, except for Pb and Zn. Diastase activity of ISSH was below the standard limit and HMF content of this honey was high, but not exceeding the limit. Supplementary feeding of honey bees with inverted (acid and heat treatment) saccharose yielded a honey which had a higher HMF content and a lower diastase activity, moisture content and free acidity than natural honey or SSH.     

Physicochemical characteristics of minor monofloral honeys from Tenerife,Spain

Physicochemical parameters (moisture, water activity, electrical conductivity, colour, hydroxymethyl furfural, acidity, pH, proline, diastase and invertase) and sugar composition (fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, isomaltose, trehalose, turanose and melezitose) were determined in 85 honeys belonging to nine minor monofloral honeys such as avocado (Persea americana), barrilla (Messembryanthemum crystallinum), heather (Erica arborea), agave o pitera (Agave americana), poleo (Bystropogon origanifolius), relinchón (Hirstfeldia incana), tedera (Aspalthium bituminosum), malpica (Carlina xeranthemoides) and oregano (Origanum virens) from Tenerife in order to typify them for the first time. Most of the studied honeys are characterized because their specific pollens are under-represented. All the honey samples showed values of all the parameters determined within the legally established intervals. All the physicochemical and sugar composition parameters, with the exception of diastase, presented significant differences in the mean values between the honeys analyzed. Applying univariate statistical analysis, the following parameters (moisture, acidity, electrical conductivity, fructose, sucrose and melezitose) allow to distinguish all the types of honeys studied without overlap. Heather and avocado honeys showed the most differential physicochemical characteristics with respect to the rest of monofloral honeys.     

Characterization and Discrimination of the Floral Origin of Sidr Honey by Physicochemical Data Combined with Multivariate Analysis

Sidr honey represents one of the most expensive monofloral honeys worldwide. The quality control of such honey types usually depends on pollen analysis or comparison of physicochemical characters. In the presented work, 38 different honey samples of which 13 represented genuine Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christy) honey samples were collected from various areas of Yemen. All samples were characterized by physicochemical parameters including moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, and free acidity. The physicochemical data was subjected to multivariate data analysis including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The development of partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model on validation gave 100 % correct classification of the test set samples. All tested honey samples were within the level permitted by the international standards for honey quality. The application of the discriminant technique PLS-DA presented excellent potential for discriminating the botanical origin of Yemeni Sidr honey from other non-Sidr samples and may serve as a discriminant model to be applied to other honey types worldwide.     

Quality parameters and antioxidant and antibacterial properties of some Mexican honeys

A total of 14 Mexican honeys were screened for quality parameters including color, moisture, proline, and acidity. Antioxidant properties of complete honey and its methanolic extracts were evaluated by the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of complete honeys against Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876, Listeria monocytogenes Scott A, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028, and Sthapylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 was determined. Most of honeys analyzed showed values within quality parameters established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 2001. Eucalyptus flower honey and orange blossom honey showed the highest phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity. Bell flower, orange blossom, and eucalyptus flower honeys inhibited the growth of the 4 evaluated microorganisms. The remaining honeys affected at least 1 of the estimated growth parameters (increased lag phase, decreased growth rate, and/or maximum population density). Microorganism sensitivity to the antimicrobial activity of honeys followed the order B. cereus > L. monocytogenes > Salmonella Typhimurium > S. aureus. The monofloral honey samples from orange blossoms, and eucalyptus flowers demonstrated to be good sources of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds. All the Mexican honey samples examined proved to be good sources of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents that might serve to maintain health and protect against several diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results of the study showed that Mexican honeys display good quality parameters and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Mexican honey can be used as an additive in the food industry to increase the nutraceutical value of products.     

单花种蜂蜜植物源黄酮标记物的研究进展

利用蜂蜜中特征成分来鉴别和标识不同种类单花种蜂蜜的植物源及其产地是当前蜂蜜研究的热点。文中介绍了黄酮化合物作为单花种蜂蜜植物源标记物的研究进展,旨在为我国单花种蜂蜜的溯源及其质量控制提供参考。     

利用非糖物质快速鉴别单花蜂蜜

本文利用非糖物质快速鉴别四种常见的单花蜂蜜(枸杞蜂蜜、荆条蜂蜜、枣花蜂蜜和洋槐蜂蜜)。利用固相萃取除糖提取蜂蜜非糖物质,并用高效液相色谱(HPLC)结合化学计量学进行蜂蜜花源的判定。发现了四种单花蜂蜜的非糖特征标志物。芦丁、丁香酸甲酯、阿魏酸的含量在四种蜂蜜中差异最大。对羟基苯甲酸和脱落酸在枸杞蜂蜜中平均含量分别为0.59μg/g和0.42μg/g,可作为枸杞蜂蜜的花源标志物;对香豆酸和肉桂酸在荆条蜂蜜中平均含量为0.08μg/g和0.05μg/g,可作为荆条蜂蜜的潜在花源标志物;阿魏酸、异阿魏酸是枣花蜂蜜的特征标志物,平均含量分别为0.40μg/g和0.76μg/g;洋槐蜂蜜的特征标志物是芦丁和丁香酸甲酯,平均含量为0.08μg/g和0.14μg/g。利用高效液相色谱指纹图谱结合化学计量学方法(主成分分析和判别分析),四种单花蜂蜜依据其花源被成功区分。本研究对蜂蜜真实性判定有重要参考价值,为后续蜂蜜真伪鉴别奠定基础。     

Buckwheat honeys: Screening of composition and properties

The quality of 10 buckwheat honeys, collected from Italian and est European beekeepers declaring to produce monofloral honey, were evaluated by means of their pollen, physicochemical, phenolic and volatile composition data. The results of the traditional analyses and in particular electrical conductivity, optical rotation, pH and sugar composition revealed some poorly pure samples that could not fit in the buckwheat tipology. Honey volatiles, analysed by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography–mass-spectrometry (GC/MS), showed more than 100 volatile compounds, most of them present in all honey samples but with quantitative variation. Besides many furfural derivates, 3-methylbutanoic acid was the main volatile compound found in most of honeys. Also the presence of 2- and 3-methylbutanal and pheynalcetaldehyde confirmed the typical buckwheat aroma of some studied samples, corroborating physicochemical data. The HPLC phenolic profile was similar across the samples and p-hydroxybenzoic and p-coumaric acids proved to be the main components.     

Invertase activity in fresh and processed honeys

The enzymatic activities of 147 samples of commercially produced Spanish polyfloral and monofloral honeys are reported. Important variations in invertase activity and peroxide accumulation were determined to obtain objective information related to honey quality. Variations from 4.04 (Robinia pseudoacacia) to 25.61 g sucrose hydrolysed per 100 g h⁻¹ (SN) (Castanea sativa) and from 11.31 (Erica vagans) to 45.25 µg H₂O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹ (Hedysarum coronarium) were detected, with a range from 10.57 to 46.2 SN in polyfloral honeys. Honeys from Erica spp had different invertase activities—high for E cinerea (18.3 SN) and low for E vagans (8.36 SN). The different heating processes of honey have been evaluated to determine the best treatment for preserving invertase activity. The hydroxymethylfurfural content is not a sufficiently good indicator of the degree of deterioration of honey. Another objective was to assess the use of invertase activity in honey quality legislation. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Flavonoid pattern of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) unifloral honey

The aim of the present paper was to determine the flavonoids in monofloral sage (Salvia officinalis L.) honey which is characteristic and specific for the area of Croatian coast and islands. For that purpose 38 sage honey samples from two production seasons were analysed. After specific pollen content determination, and analyses of selected physicochemical parameters which confirmed that samples are in compliance with national and international regulations and can be regarded as unifloral sage honeys, flavonoid fraction was isolated and analysed using RP-HPLC/DAD method. The HPLC analysis showed that all examined sage honey samples contain quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), luteolin (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone), kaempferol (3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone), apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) and galangin (3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone), as well as p-coumaric (trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) and caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid). Total amount of identified flavonoids varied from 109.4 μg/100 g of honey to 589.9 μg/100 g of honey, with the average of 288.5 μg/100 g of honey. All analysed honey samples showed common and specific flavonoid profile which could be the basis for differentiating sage from other monofloral honeys.     

Antioxidant activity,color chromaticity coordinates,and chemical characterization of monofloral honeys from Morocco

The bioprospecting of several monofloral Moroccan honeys was carried out. The antiradical activity expressed as mmol Trolox equivalents/kg of honey and evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, ranged from 0.15 for euphorb honey to 1.08 for citrus honey. The antioxidant activity expressed as mmol Fe²⁺/kg and evaluated by ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assay, ranged from 0.96 for euphorb honey to 4.74 for orange honey. The total phenol content was evaluated by colorimetric assay, while the color attributes were evaluated as transmittance data. Significant Pearson correlation factors were found between total polyphenol amount and antioxidant activity and between color attributes and antioxidant activity. Furthermore the chemical composition of volatile organic compounds was determined. The volatile organic compounds chemical composition of the studied honeys was mainly represented by terpene and benzene derivatives, Maillard reaction products, isoprenoids, and hydrocarbons. The volatiles fingerprint, as well as a targeted high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the polar components, was used to tentatively confirm the declared botanical origin of the samples studied.     

Characterisation of Slovenian honeys on the basis of sensory and physicochemical analysis with a chemometric approach

The purpose of this study was sensory and physicochemical characterisation of Slovenian honeys with a chemometric approach. Honey samples were obtained from the beekeepers in different natural geographical macroregions of Slovenia. The sensory characteristics of the seven main types of Slovenian honeys are described, together with the physicochemical analyses. The average results of electrical conductivity (0.19–1.61 mS cm^?1), pH (4.01–5.51), free acidity (13.3–30.9 meq kg^?1), proline content (317–558 mg kg^?1), protein content (1.70–3.53 g kg^?1), optical rotation (–19.6 to 12.6), phenolic content (44.9–232.5 mg GAE kg^?1) and antioxidant activity [69.6–456.4 μm Fe(II)] show wide variability among analysed honey types. Statistically significant differences were obtained among different honey types, generally lower values of the analysed parameters were determined in the light honeys, as the acacia, linden and multifloral honeys, while the higher values are characteristic for darker honeys, as the chestnut, fir, spruce and forest honeys. Linear discriminant analysis was performed to classify the honey samples according to their botanical origin and proved that physicochemical parameters analysed can provide enough information for the classification and distinction of acacia, linden, multifloral and chestnut honeys, and the group of honeydew honeys (fir, spruce and forest honeys).     

Characterisation of Argentinean honeys and evaluation of its inhibitory action on Escherichia coli growth

The aim of this work was to evaluate the physicochemical, sensory and Escherichia coli growth inhibitory characteristics of honey of different botanical sources from two geographic origin of Argentina. Honeys were obtained from apiaries located in two zones. The floral identification of honeys allowed to clustered them as monofloral, mixed and polyfloral honeys. The study of the physicochemical parameters such as colour, free acidity, pH and moisture showed that the last one reflected significant differences between honeys. These differences were markedly reflected in the average values of moisture content for each zone, being 18.96% and 14.29% to centre and east zone, respectively. In general, honeys evaluated presented an inhibitory effect on the E. coli growth at different periods of time (bacteriostatic action). Only, two of the samples would show a bactericide action against E. coli at 48 h of incubation. Honeys with higher non‐hydrogen peroxide activity, were collected from a same geographic place at the same season of year, showing a relationship between the antimicrobial activity and the geographic origin, which could be associated with the typical flora of the place.     

Differentiation of blossom and honeydew honeys using multivariate analysis on the physicochemical parameters and sugar composition

Multivariate analysis was applied on physicochemical parameters (moisture, water activity, electric conductivity, colour, hydroxymethyl furfural, acidity, pH, proline, diastase and invertase), sugar composition (fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, isomaltose, trehalose, turanose and melezitose) and palinological parameters determined in blossom and suspected honeydew honeys in order to differentiate them. The majority of the physicochemical, sugar composition and palinological parameters evaluated presented significant differences in the mean values between the suspected honeydew and blossom honeys, with the exception of moisture, water activity, diastase, fructose and maltose. Blossom honey samples tend to differentiate from the suspected honeydew honeys after applying factor analysis on the physicochemical parameters and sugar composition. Stepwise linear discriminant analysis allows the correct classification of all blossom honeys, and only one honeydew honey was erroneously included as blossom honey. So, the use of multivariate analysis on physicochemical parameters and sugar composition can be a useful tool to differentiate these types of honeys.     

Palynological and physicochemical data characterisation of honeys produced in the Entre‐Douro e Minho region of Portugal

Honey legislation has been addressed to establish the minimum marketing level of the product and the need for consumer protection through correct denominations. Research oriented toward assessment of floral origin and physicochemical properties may increase the commercial value of these products. The characteristics of thirty‐one honeys produced in the Entre‐Douro e Minho region in Portugal were studied. Pollen features and some physicochemical parameters (moisture, ash, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, hydroxymethylfurfural contain, apparent sucrose, reducing sugars and diastase activity) were determined. The samples were found to meet international honey specifications. The present study found a linear regression between the ash content of honeys and their specific conductivity. Five samples are listed as Eucalyptus honey, one sample as Citrus honey, and twenty‐five samples as multifloral honeys. Of the total, 87.1% exceeded the quality parameters and should be labelled as ‘virgin’ honey.     

HPTLC Phenolic Profiles as Useful Tools for the Authentication of Honey

The present study reveals the utility of high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) fingerprinting of phenolic constituents for the authentication of monofloral honeys. The obtained data enables a more complete assessment of honey quality and the identification of emerging threats to honey quality. The developed procedure facilitates differentiation of varietal honeys and detection of honey adulterations. We used an HPTLC fingerprint analysis to determine the characteristic patterns of different honey types (willow, buckwheat, heather, pine honeydew, and manuka honey). The HPTLC chromatograms were used to determine the differences in the botanical origin of the honey samples on the basis of the band profiles, which are characteristic for each honey type. Identification of 11 polyphenols was performed by comparison of the color and R_f of the bands with available standards. Additionally, the results were confirmed by an HPLC analysis.     

Characterisation of avocado (Persea americana Mill) honeys by their physicochemical characteristics

The quality of 12 avocado (Persea americana Mill) honeys from Spain was evaluated. Eight common physicochemical parameters were analysed, namely water content, pH, acidity (free, lactonic and total), sugar content, ash content and electrical conductivity. In addition, the honey samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES), and six minerals were quantified for each honey, namely potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S). Most samples showed proper maturity considering the medium water content (mean 17.7%). The total acidity (below 50 meq kg^?1 except for one sample) indicated absence of undesirable fermentation; also, the mean pH of around 4.77 is usual in this kind of honey. The values for ash content and electrical conductivity were high (0.77% and 798 µS cm^?1 respectively) and typical of dark honeys. K was the predominant mineral (accounting for 73% of the total minerals quantified), followed by Na (10%). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Flavonoid profile of Robinia honeys produced in Croatia

In this work specific pollen content, selected physicochemical parameters and flavonoid profile of 40 Croatian Robinia honeys from two production seasons were analysed. Results showed good compliance with national and international regulatory requirements, as well as with values typical for Robinia monofloral honey. All analysed samples showed same, typical flavonoid profile. Flavonoid content was different for two seasons, but rates of individual compounds remained unchanged. Higher concentrations of flavonoids were found in samples produced during dry season with high temperatures.