Nutritional and botanical interest of honey collected from protected natural areas

Abstract

Due to numerous episodes of contamination through illegal beekeeping practices, the certification and re-evaluation of honey is required to guarantee a clean, natural and healthy product. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the good quality of honey produced in protected areas by demonstrating both its nutraceutical content and its role in monitoring the plant species present in protected areas. All the physico-chemical parameters necessary for defining the quality of honey (botanical origin; conductivity; diastase activity; pH; free, lactonic and total acidities; water content; fructose, glucose and sucrose content; hydroxymethylfurfural) and total flavonoid and phenolic contents were analyzed and evidenced its high quality. Moreover, melissopalynology allowed us to establish a floristic census within the nature reserves and parks.