Mieles del Chaco Húmedo: origen botánico y geográfico de la provincia de Formosa (Argentina)

The aim of the study is to standardize the physicochemical quality indicators of angelica honey, characterizing its botanical origin – electrical conductivity and proline content in honey. The objects of research are 45 samples of angelica honey (collected in 2016–2020) from different regions of Kuzbass and Altai. Honey studies were carried out in an accredited laboratory of the Federal Research and Certification Center LLC (Perm). The methods of systematization, analysis and generalization were used. The obtained data were also compared with the results of angelica honey analyzes previously carried out by other authors in other laboratories. The studies cover different periods of honey collection, which increases the reliability of the results. The quality indicators (electrical conductivity and proline content in honey) are influenced by the botanical composition of honey, the type of honey plant and the natural and climatic conditions of the region, which is consistent with the data of most studies. The conducted studies of electrical conductivity and proline content in honey allowed us to establish standardized ranges of these physicochemical quality indicators for monofloral angelica honey. The proline content in the studied samples of angelica honey is 3–5 times higher than the standardized GOST values. Angelica honey is characterized by a high proline content – 350-819.4 mg/kg. The electrical conductivity of angelica honey is within the range of 0.40–0.65 mS/cm and meets the requirements of GOST 19792-2017 "Natural honey. Specifications". Angelica honey is a dark honey with a high content of minerals. The established quality indicators for electrical conductivity and the mass fraction of proline in honey can be used in the future to confirm the botanical origin of angelica honey and identify its botanical adulteration. The obtained physicochemical quality indicators of angelica honey - electrical conductivity and the mass fraction of proline in honey were taken as a basis for the development of STO 0135361486-001 "Natural monofloral angelica honey". It is necessary to continue the study of other physicochemical quality indicators of angelica honey specified in GOST 31766-2022 "Monofloral honeys. Specifications".

Application of next generation semiconductor based sequencing to detect the botanical composition of monofloral, polyfloral and honeydew honey

Honey’s chemical and sensory characteristics depend on several factors, including its botanical and geographic origins. The consumers’ increasing interest in monofloral honey and honey with a clear indication of geographic origin make these types of honey susceptible to fraud. The aim was to propose an original chemometric approach for honey’s botanical and geographic authentication purposes. The volatile fraction of almost 100 Italian honey samples (4 out of which are from Greece) from different regions and botanical origins was characterized using HS-SPME-GC-MS; the obtained data were combined for the first time with a genetic algorithm to provide a model for the simultaneous authentication of the botanical and geographic origins of the honey samples. A total of 212 volatile compounds were tentatively identified; strawberry tree honeys were those with the greatest total content (i.e., 4829.2 ng/g). A greater variability in the VOCs’ content was pointed out for botanical than for geographic origin. The genetic algorithm obtained a 100% correct classification for acacia and eucalyptus honeys, while worst results were achieved for honeydew (75%) and wildflower (60%) honeys; concerning geographic authentication, the best results were for Tuscany (92.7%). The original combination of HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis and a genetic algorithm is therefore proposed as a promising tool for honey authentication purposes.

There is very little information available on the physicochemical proprieties and biochemical composition of the honey commercially available which are truly endangered in Morocco. None of the studied honey is available for commercial purposes, which is the main interest and novelty of this study. The aim of this work is to characterize and classify forty seven honey samples collected from different localities in Morocco and to compare them with two foreign honey samples from Ghana and France, based on their physicochemical proprieties, phenolic contents, radical scavenging activity and volatile compounds by SPME-GC/MS were used to evaluate the quality and cluster all honey samples. Variance analysis revealed highly significant differences between samples (p < 0.05). Monofloral honey was characterized by the highest concentration of proline (292.77 ± 13.30). Mutifloral honey from France showed higher amounts of diastase (17.50 ± 1.80) than other compounds, while eucalyptus honey had a higher amount of HMF (105.14 ± 3.7) than the others. Multifloral honey from Ghana showed higher contents of total phenol (149.31 ± 0.41 mg GAE/100g) and flavonoids (58.28 ± 2.6mgRu/100g) than carotenoids (40.76 ± 0.7 mg Eβ carotene/100g). Thyme honey showed the highest phenol content (70.97 ± 1.35 mg GAE/100g), flavonoids content (47.18 ± 2.43 mg ERu/100g) and carotenoids content (74.94 ± 3.08mEβ-carotene) than other monofloral honey and glucose honey examined. The principal components analysis (PCA) was performed in order to classify honey samples and identify the most discriminant parameters. Lastly, using ANOVA and correlations for all parameters, significant differences between diverse types of honey were examined. Biochemical and SPME/GC/MS methods were used to propose a complementary approach for honey classification.

Twenty honey samples of Apis mellifera were collected during the main flowering period (July–October) between 2003 and 2018. Six apiaries in Mato Grosso (MT) state and three apiaries in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) state were sampled. The vegetation in the region is non-flooding, seasonally flooded and aquatic savanna with scattered forested patches (seasonal semi-deciduous forest, Cerrado and Cerradão). Samples were analysed by non-acetolysed method in order to understand the relative pollen frequencies. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compare the similarity between the samples. Within the 13 MT honey samples, 63 pollen types from 55 genera and 40 families were identified, as well as three undetermined pollen types. Monofloral MT honey of Curatella americana (‘lixeira’) and Myracrodruon urundeva (‘aroeira’) were recognised. In the seven MS honey samples, a total of 40 pollen types from 32 genera and 24 families were identified. Monofloral MS honey included Myracrodruon urundeva, Stryphnodendron adstringens (‘barbatimão’) and Richardia (‘bernarda’). The results of the analyses did not correspond to the flowering sources declared by the beekeepers. To ensure the palynological differentiation of Pantanal honey required by international trade as PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), a greater control over its botanical origin is necessary, through melissopalynological analysis.

Honey is a multifaceted substance whose composition is intricately affected by various biotic and abiotic elements generated in the bee colony's surroundings, including botanical and geographical origins, climatic conditions, soil characteristics, and beekeeping techniques. Monofloral honeys are identified by pollen analysis and are derived from the nectar of a predominant plant species, exhibiting rich sensory and nutritional profiles, making them food matrices with unique characteristics and excellent qualities. To explore the monofloral honey potential harvested in different regions of Portugal, a comprehensive study was conducted including the determination of phenolic composition and the assessment of biological activities. In addition to this evaluation, the inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) was used to help differentiate honeys by botanical origin. The phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods, observing, in general, differences between monofloral honeys. The honey from Citrus sinensis (Silves) exhibited the lowest phenolic content, including total phenols, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoids, whereas honeydew (Vinhais) showed the highest values. Regarding the antioxidant capacity, honey from Lavandula stoechas (Almodôvar) presented the lowest values, while honeydew (Vinhais) displayed the highest values for both DPPH and FRAP assays. In relation to the ABTS assay, the honey from Metrosideros excelsa (Aveiro) exhibited the lowest values, whereas the honey from Eucalyptus spp. (Arouca) showed the highest. The ISSR marker analysis allows the distribution of the samples based on the honey's botanical origin, suggesting its potential role in honey authentication.

In the market, two types of honey are available: monofloral and multifloral honeys. Monofloral honey has been regarded having higher market values than multifloral one. In order to protect a fraud trading between monofloral and multifloral honeys, it is very important to develop an analytical method which can be used to discriminate the two type of honeys. We utilized spectral data in the UV-visible region (250-450 nm) coupled with linear discrimination analysis (LDA) to classify monofloral and multifloral honeys from Indonesia. Total 400 samples of monofloral and multifloral honeys were used as samples. The spectral data were recorded using UV-vis spectrometer in the wavelength of 190-1100 nm with 1 nm of resolution. Several preprocessing methods was applied to improve the quality of spectral data. Principal component analysis (PCA) was calculated to map the samples and the PCA scores were used as input for classification task using linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The result suggested that UV-Visible spectroscopy is a powerful tool for quality evaluation of Indonesian honeys.

The pollen contents of 34 Apis mellifera honey samples from the Quilombola Community of Porto Velho (Vale do Ribeira, state of São Paulo, Brazil) were studied in order to identify their botanical and geographical origin. A total number of 114 pollen types distributed in 43 families were identified. Fabaceae pollen types were the most diverse (20). Dominant pollen was observed in 27 samples. The dominant type Piper was found in 21 samples and Zanthoxylum, Mikania cordifolia, Cupania oblongifolia, Cecropia, Attalea and Poaceae only in one sample. The quantitative analysis revealed a predominance of very-high pollen concentrations in the samples (Category IV, 35.3%). A second frequency of occurrence analysis revealed 67 pollen types from 26 botanical families from nectariferous species. Fabaceae was also the family with the largest number of nectariferous pollen types (15), followed by Sapindaceae, Asteraceae (six pollen types each), and Euphorbiaceae (five types). Dominant pollen occurred in 19 samples. The main nectariferous sources of pollen in the present study were: Arecaceae (Attalea and Euterpe/Syagrus), Asteraceae (Mikania cordifolia), Fabaceae (Machaerium), Rutaceae (Zanthoxylum), and Sapindaceae (Cupania oblongifolia). The honey was classified as predominantly heterofloral (67.6%). Monofloral honey from Mikania cordifolia, Machaerium, Zanthoxylum, Cupania oblongifolia, Euterpe/Syagrus and Attalea were also identified. The geographical origin demonstrates Apis mellifera using nectariferous sources available from the Atlantic Rainforest in the south and southeast of Brazil, as well as in the brushwood, secondary forest and field plants. This is one of the first works about melissopalynology in the Vale do Ribeira Region.

Background: vegetative diversity is based on different climate and geographical origins. In terms of beekeeping, herbal diversity is strongly correlated to the production of a wide variety of honey. Therefore, based on the existing plant diversity in each country, multiple honey varieties are produced with different health characteristics. While beekeeping potential and consumption preferences are reflected in products’ variety, this leads to an increase in the region’s economy and extensive export. In the last years, monofloral honey has gained interest from consumers and especially in the medicinal field due to the presence of phytochemicals which are directly linked to health benefits, wound healing, antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Scope and approach: this review aims to highlight the physicochemical properties, mineral profiles and antioxidant activities of selected monofloral honeys based on their botanical and geographical origin. Moreover, this review focuses on the intercorrelation between monofloral honey’s antioxidant compounds and in vitro and in vivo activities, focusing on the apoptosis and cell proliferation inhibition in various cell lines, with a final usage of honey as a potential therapeutic product in the fight towards reducing tumor growth. Key findings and conclusions: multiple studies have demonstrated that monofloral honeys have different physicochemical structures and bioactive compounds. Useful chemical markers to distinguish between monofloral honeys were evidenced, such as: 2-methoxybenzoic acid and trimethoxybenzoic acid are distinctive to Manuka honey while 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid is characteristic to Kanuka honey. Furthermore, resveratrol, epigallocatechin and pinostrobin are markers distinct to Sage honey, whereas carvacrol and thymol are found in Ziziphus honey. Due to their polyphenolic profile, monofloral honeys have significant antioxidant activity, as well as antidiabetic, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. It was demonstrated that Pine honey decreased the MDA and TBARS levels in liver, kidney, heart and brain tissues, whereas Malicia honey reduced the low-density lipoprotein level. Consumption of Clover, Acacia and Gelam honeys reduced the weight and adiposity, as well as trygliceride levels. Furthermore, the antiproliferative effect of chrysin, a natural flavone in Acacia honey, was demonstrated in human (A375) and murine (B16-F1) melanoma cell lines, whereas caffeic acid, a phenolic compound found in Kelulut honey, proves to be significant candidate in the chemoprevention of colon cancer. Based on these features, the use of hiney in the medicinal field (apitherapy), and the widespread usage of natural product consumption, is gaining interest by each year.

The aim of the present work was to describe the most unique pollen found in the honey collected in protected landscapes of Lithuania. Honey samples were collected from Lithuania's protected landscape areas to study the botanical origin of pollen. A total of 17 samples of honey were obtained from different protected geographical locations of Lithuania: Varduva Scenic Landscape Reserve, Salantai Regional Park, Žemaitija National Park, Dzūkija National Park, from the border between Poland and Lithuania in the Lazdijai District, Armona Geological Reserve, Gomerta Landscape Reserve, and Krekenava Regional Park. Botanical origin of honey was determined by the melissopalynology method. Monofloral lime honey was specific for the south (Dzūkija National Park) and east (Armona Geological Reserve) of Lithuania, where pollen of Tilia cordata Mill. made up 79.0% and 53.9%, respectively. Monofloral caraway honey was found in the Salantai Regional Park close to Žemaitija National Park and in the Armona Geological Reserve. In these locations Carum carvi L. pollen in this type of honey accounted for 50.19% and 82.8%, respectively. Honey with the highest content of Fagopyrum esculentum M. pollen (close to 100%) was collected from Dzūkija National Park. Monofloral honey from Onobrychis Mill. was characteristic mainly of the Lazdijai District. Onobrychis Mill. pollen accounted for 52.1-54.4% of the monofloral honey and 9.2-17.8% of the polyfloral honey. Monofloral Frangula alnus Mill. honey was found only in the Lazdijai District, where the dominant F. alnus pollen made up 46.1-52.1%. Salix spp. pollen was identified in all kinds of honey collected in different locations of Lithuania.

Background: Geographical and botanical origins of honeys are determined by melissopalynological analysis. Pollen contents of 12 autumn honeys collected from Indian honey bee, Apis cerana F. hives located in different localities of Kullu hills of Himachal Pradesh were analysed. Kullu hills having varied geography, climatic condition with diversified and rich flora is ideal for apiculture. So, it is of utmost importance to study the floral richness of the area and preferences of honey bees for nectar and pollen in order to obtain maximum production of a good quality of honey. Thus, the present work was carried out to determine the critical analysis of honey samples and to identify the different pollen types which are major plant sources that contribute to the increase of yield of honey. Methods: Melissopalynological studies were conducted between 2009 to 2012. Reference pollen slides of honey samples were prepared and identified. Quantative analysis is done with the help of a haemocytometer and pollen spectra, absolute pollen count as well as percentage of pollen types were calculated. Reference slides were also prepared. Result: Microscopic analysis yielded that in honey samples, 5 pollen types were present as predominant; 17 were secondary, while, 38 were important minor and minor pollen sources. Out of 12 honey samples analysed, 5 were unifloral, whereas, 7 were multifloral. In the unifloral honeys, the predominant sporomorphs were: Prunus cerasoides, Eriobotrya japonica, Prinsepia utilis, Plectranthus sp. and Solidago sp. Forty four pollen types were necteriferous, while, 6 were nectarless represented by Cannabis sativa, Juglans regia, Rumex nepalensis, Polygonum sp. and Zea mays. Among different plant families, Lamiaceae (8), Asteraceae (7), Rosaceae (7), Fabaceae (4), Polygonaceae (3) and Apiaceae (2) highly contributed for nectar and pollen sources of honey bee. Twenty five botanical families with 50 different pollen taxa were identified indicating the various plants visited by honeybees and the sources of nectar used in the production of honey. The high concentration and diversity of pollen types showed that the samples were of botanical origin.

Turkey, with its rich flora and high endemism proportion in a temperate zone, is highly favorable for beekeeping. In the studied area, two honeybees are present: Apis mellifera anatoliaca and the Yığılca local honeybee, which has been determined as local ecotype of anatoliaca in the Black Sea region. The main objective of this study was to determine the botanical sources of honey samples, which are produced by these two honeybees, from Akçakoca and Yığılca district. Chestnut and mad honey samples were obtained from local beekeepers. Pollen types in the honey samples were identified and determined the frequency classes. Castanea sativa was identified as the predominant pollen among the honey samples of Anatolian honeybee; these samples were classified as monofloral honey. Besides, Rhododendron ponticum and Lysimachia verticillaris pollens were found to be the important minor pollens in the mad honey samples of Anatolian honeybee. Mad honey samples from the Yığılca local honeybee were a multifloral honey and included Rhododendron ponticum and five other pollens as important minor pollen. In addition, physicochemical analyses were also performed. The honey samples gathered from the Yığılca district were deemed acceptable. On the other hand, the honey samples from the Akçakoca district were found acceptable except for moisture content. Also, 104 plant specimens were collected around beehives and 54 taxa were reported as melliferous plants. The Sorensen similarity coefficient, calculating among the melliferous plants of two localities (Akçakoca and Yığılca), was 51.85%. Diversity of melliferous plants was also higher in Yığılca than in Akçakoca.

Honeys have specific organoleptic characteristics, with nutritional and health benefits, being highly appreciated by consumers, not only in food but also in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Honey composition varies between regions according to the surrounding flora, enabling its characterization by source or type. Monofloral honeys may reach higher market values than multifloral ones. Honey’s aroma is very specific, resulting from the combination of volatile compounds present in low concentrations. The authentication of honey’s complex matrix, according to its botanical and/or geographical origin, represents a challenge nowadays, due to the different sorts of adulteration that may occur, leading to the search for reliable marker compounds for the different monofloral honeys. The existing information on the volatiles of monofloral honeys is scarce and disperse. In this review, twenty monofloral honeys and honeydews, from acacia, buckwheat, chestnut, clover, cotton, dandelion, eucalyptus, fir tree, heather, lavender, lime tree, orange, pine, rape, raspberry, rhododendron, rosemary, strawberry tree, sunflower and thyme, were selected for volatile comparison purposes. Taking into consideration the country of origin, the technique of isolation and analysis, the five main volatiles from each of the honeys are compared. Whereas some compounds were found in several types of monofloral honey, and thus not considered good volatile markers, some monofloral honeys revealed characteristic volatile compounds independently of their provenance.

There are many studies dealing with the comparison of the quality and biological characteristics of honey of distinct geographical and botanical origins. However, there is scarce literary data on the physico-chemical and biological properties of different types of honey from the same production regions. Honey samples used in this study were from the following botanical origins: forest honey (honeydew), polyfloral honey and monofloral acacia honey. All samples were provided by a local beekeeper from Sumadija district (Central Serbia) and produced during the flowering season in 2018. Spectrophotometric determination of phenolic compounds in honey samples showed that the forest honey contained the highest total phenolics (806.10 mg GAE/kg) and flavonoids (146.27 mg QU/kg) contents, more than ten times higher than acacia honey (68.48 mg GAE/kg and 18.59 mg QU/kg, respectively). Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH· and ABTS·+ assays. Forest honey showed better antioxidant activity than the other examined honey samples (594.77 mg Trolox/kg for ABTS assay and 260.77 mg Trolox/kg for DPPH assay). The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of honey samples against a panel of eleven bacterial and eight fungal species, along with yeast Candida albicans, showed that forest honey was the most effective in inhibition of their growth. These results suggest that forest honey has the best potential, among studied honey samples, for use in the human diet as food with valuable biological properties.

Characterization of Spanish honeys with protected designation of origin “Miel de Granada” according to their mineral content