Abstract
To select and establish floral biomarkers of the botanical origin of Diplotaxis tenuifolia honeys, the flavonoids and glucosinolates present in bee-deposited nectar collected from hive combs (unripe honey) and mature honey from the same hives fron which the unripe honey samples were collected were analyzed by LC-UV-PAD-ESI-MS(n). Glycosidic conjugates of the flavonols quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin were detected and characterized in unripe honey. D. tenuifolia mature honeys contained the aglycones kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin. The differences between the phenolic profiles of mature honey and freshly deposited honey could be due to hydrolytic enzymatic activities. Aliphatic and indole glucososinolates were analyzed in unripe and mature honeys, this being the first report of the detection and characterization of glucosinolates as honey constituents. Moreover, these honey samples contained different amounts of propolis-derived flavonoid aglycones (1765-3171 μg/100 g) and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (29-1514 μg/100 g). Propolis flavonoids were already present in the freshly deposited nectar, showing that the incorporation of these compounds to honey occurs at the early steps of honey production. The flavonoids quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin and the glucosinolates detected in the samples could be used as complementary biomarkers for the determination of the floral origin of Argentinean Diplotaxis honeys.
Highlights
Unifloral honey is produced from the nectar of one plant species [1]
All these markers were detected either in the floral nectar directly collected from the flowers or in the content of the bee-honey-sack which has been found useful to study the presence of specific markers for each floral origin
In a recent study, different flavonoid rhamnosides and rutinosides were detected in flower nectar, such as kaempferol rhamnosides in acacia honey
Summary
Unifloral honey is produced from the nectar of one plant species [1]. These honeys obtained from identified botanical sources, possess specific composition and could be commonly trade at higher prices than honeys from mixed botanical sources. The main objective of this study is the phytochemical fingerprinting of flavonoid glycosides and glucosinolates during the nectar and honeys maturation from Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.D. and the stability of, as well as the potential use as floral markers.
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