Abstract
The polyphenols content of 105 honey samples produced by black honeybees (Apis Mellifera ssp. Sicula) and common honeybees (Apis mellifera ssp. Ligustica) from Western Sicily (Southern Italy) was examined using TurboFlow™ liquid chromatography Orbitrap™ high-resolution mass spectrometry. The results showed very high kaempferol and quercetin contents, with average values higher than what was reported in literature (3967.9 ± 2184.16 and 2206.1 ± 1666.4 μg kg−1 for kaempferol and quercetin, respectively). The honey samples produced by Apis Mellifera ssp. Sicula subspecies showed polyphenols content up to two times higher than Apis mellifera ssp. Ligustica. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model calculated on the polyphenols content showed a satisfactory separation of the honey samples in terms of honeybee subspecies and production area. The model proposed in this work shows the possibility to safeguard the authenticity of the honey produced in the various geographic areas of Sicily.
Highlights
During the last decades, food characterization becomes a challenging topic because it includes both authenticity and geographical origin determination (Mallamace et al, 2014; Pantano et al, 2016)
The polyphenols content of 105 honey samples produced by black honeybees
The results showed very high kaempferol and quercetin contents, with average values higher than what was reported in literature (3967.9 ± 2184.16 and 2206.1 ± 1666.4 μg kg− 1 for kaempferol and quercetin, respectively)
Summary
Food characterization becomes a challenging topic because it includes both authenticity and geographical origin determination (Mallamace et al, 2014; Pantano et al, 2016). The classification and quantification of polyphenols and other components are essential in determining the effects of environment on honey and other food types characterization, since these compounds varies according to the climate and other environmental conditions of the production area (Rodrıǵ uez-Delgado et al, 2002; Tenore et al, 2012). In the phylogeographical study of honeybee populations, especially in Mediterranean areas, human influences must be accounted for Franck et al (2000). For this reason, various genetic characteristics derived from the African and/or Oriental branches could have been incorporated into Sicilian honeybee populations (Ruttner, 2013)
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