Rapid, non-destructive and comprehensive quantitative analysis of honey by combined use of conventional and broadband-WET NMR spectra.

Honey variety authentication is critical for ensuring market integrity and protecting consumer rights, especially for high-value unifloral honeys, such as acacia honey, which are frequently adulterated with low-value alternatives such as rape honey due to their similar visual appearance. The aim of this study was to develop a method for precise discrimination between rape honey and acacia honey using their chemical profiles combined with machine learning. A total of 542 honey samples were collected from major beekeeping regions in China. Targeted quantification of 12 sugars and 20 amino acids was performed using UPLC-MS/MS. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in sugar and amino acid compositions between the two honey types, though partial samples overlapped due to chemical similarity. Six machine learning algorithms, including the Multilayer Perceptron, were employed for classification. Optimization was performed via 10-fold cross-validation and ADASYN oversampling, yielding optimal performance of 98% and 100% prediction accuracies for rape honey and acacia honey, respectively, on the independent test set. SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) analysis identified key differential markers, including fructose, turanose, glucose, and GABA, which contributed most to the classification. Furthermore, a user-friendly web application was developed to facilitate rapid on-site authentication. This study provides an innovative technical framework for honey variety discrimination, with potential applications in quality control and anti-fraud practices.

Comprehensive investigation of matrine and oxymatrine in Chinese jujube honey: a study on their conversion.

Chronic stress is a key risk factor for depression and metabolic dysfunction, widely mediated through oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. Natural products such as honey are increasingly investigated for their potential to attenuate stress-induced pathophysiological changes. This study evaluated the protective effects of Malaysian Acacia honey (AH) on glucose regulation, oxidative damage, histopathological alterations, and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in stress-induced rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 42) were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress and supplemented with AH, amitriptyline (AMT), or their combination for 28 days. Blood glucose levels, erythrocyte hemolysis, histological changes in liver and kidney, and expression of IL-1β and TGF-β1 in ileum, caecum, and hypothalamus were assessed. Data were reported as mean and standard error of mean (SEM) after three or more independent experiments had been conducted. The data were analyzed using a paired-t-test or a one-way or two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and considered significant if p < 0.05. Stress markedly elevated glucose levels (7.97 ± 0.20 mmol/L), increased hemolysis (14.30% ± 2.96), and induced hepatic (cytoplasmic vacuolation, 1.40 ± 0.25; cell lining absent, 1.20 ± 0.37) and renal lesions (dilated intertubular capillaries, 1.40 ± 0.51; inflammation, 2.20 ± 0.20), accompanied by upregulation of IL-1β (1.27-fold ± 0.20) and TGF-β1 (1.00-fold ± 0.08). Supplementation with AH significantly reduced hyperglycemia, inhibited hemolysis, ameliorated tissue damage, and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines. Combination therapy with AH and AMT produced the most significant improvements near to normal level, suggesting synergistic benefits. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of AH as a natural adjunct in managing stress-related metabolic and inflammatory disturbances.

This study aims to analyze the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through acacia honey cultivation as a means to improve the economic conditions of farmers in Bandar Laksamana District, Bengkalis Regency. Acacia honey farming is seen as a promising form of business diversification for farmers to increase their income and strengthen local economic resilience. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach with data collection techniques including observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The findings indicate that the development of MSMEs through acacia honey cultivation significantly contributes to increasing farmers' income, creating new employment opportunities, and strengthening community-based business networks. However, this development still faces challenges such as limited access to markets, capital, and technical training. Therefore, active involvement from local governments and supporting institutions is needed in providing training, financial assistance, and broader market access so that acacia honey farming can grow sustainably and become a driving force for farmers' economic development in the region.

Volatile metabolomic analysis reveals terpenoid differences between naturally matured and artificially heated acacia honey

Perineal wounds, postpartum pain, anemia, and low breast milk production are common problems in postpartum mothers that can reduce their quality of life. Topical and oral use of honey has been shown to accelerate wound healing, reduce pain, increase hemoglobin levels, and increase breast milk production. The study's objectives were to determine the effectiveness of primary honey dressing of perineal wounds and acacia honey consumption in improving the quality of life of postpartum mothers. This pre-experimental study used a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest with a control group. Using a total sampling technique, the sample size was 40 postpartum mothers, consisting of 20 in the treatment group and 20 in the control group. The intervention consisted of a primary honey dressing on the perineal wound and acacia honey consumption for 21 days. The instruments used included the REEDA scale, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), hemoglobin level measurements, and breast milk volume measurements. Data analysis used the Independent T-Test and Paired T-Test. There were significant differences between the treatment and control groups in terms of perineal wound healing (p&lt;0.05), reduced pain intensity (p&lt;0.05), increased hemoglobin levels (p&lt;0.05), and increased breast milk production (p&lt;0.05). Primary honey dressing on the perineal wound and acacia honey consumption was effective in accelerating wound healing, reducing postpartum pain, increasing hemoglobin levels, and increasing breast milk production, all of which contributed to an overall improvement in the quality of life of postpartum mothers. It is recommended that healthcare professionals consider using honey in obstetric care, particularly in postpartum maternal monitoring. This implementation can be a promotive and preventive strategy in maternal health care.

Fact box Species 6 six species of Vitex have been recognized in India which include V. negundo, V. glabrata, V. leucoxylon, V. penduncularis, V. pinnata, and V. trifolia (Kulkarni, 2011). Family Lamiaceae (Verbenaceae) Common names Chinese chaste tree, Nirgundi, Five-Leaf Chaste Tree, Sinduvara, Indrani, Nilanirgundi, local name Banah. Distribution Widely distributed throughout the world in the tropical and subtropical regions of Australia, Asia, Africa, with a few South American species. It occurs in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar (in Africa), and in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam (in Asia). It is also found in similar habitats along the seashore throughout Mauritius, Japan and southward through Malaya to tropical Australia and Polynesia. Flowering period April to October. Values to bees It is widely planted as a hedge-plant along the roads and between the fields that serves as an important bee forage plant. Pollen and Nectar Good source of nectar and pollen. Pollinators have been of special concern in recent years. The attractiveness of Vitex cultivars to both honey bees and bumble bees, as well as other pollinators, is an important study as part of an urban landscape designed to support pollinators. Honey Vitex honey, also known as chaste tree honey, is a light amber, transparent honey with a delicate fragrance. It is considered a monofloral honey and possesses distinctive qualities compared to other types. It is particularly recognized for its unique chemical profile, with a higher concentration of certain phenolic compounds and flavonoids that contribute to its strong antioxidant activity. Moreover, Vitex honey generally contains more proline and may exhibit a different mineral composition when compared with other honeys such as acacia, linden, rape, or jujube honey. V. negundo honey is traditionally also used as medicine for bronchitis and other respiratory diseases and is known to improve digestion (Vishwanathan & Basavaraju, 2010). Other uses It is used as a hedge, ornamental plant, growth promoter in agriculture, manure, pesticide, medicine, food, food protectant, household pesticide, in reclamation of wasteland and erosion, basketry, and in the preparation of grain storage structures. All parts of V. negundo, including leaves, flowers, twigs, roots, and seeds, have been commonly used for various applications in folk medicine. Both leaves and seeds have also been claimed to possess edible purposes, being occasionally used as a condiment and tea, and even as a famine food when all else fails. The essential oils from leaves and seeds have fantastic insecticide and antibacterial effects against food infestation and bacteria contamination, making VN oil an ideal food protectant to facilitate food preservation. In India, nirgundi is considered a sacred plant and used in different religious rituals.

Improved quality, sensory properties and nutraceutical potential of the fermented beverages fortified with freeze-dried berries and acacia honey.

Carbohydrates are vital for honey bee energy, fitness, and survival, influencing colony dynamics and resilience. This study examined the effects of various carbohydrate sources on honeybee longevity, hypopharyngeal gland size, gene expression, and gut microbiome composition. Newly emerged bees were fed white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup (CS), maltose, acacia honey, chestnut honey, and oligosaccharide ad libitum. Bees fed CS showed the highest longevity, followed by acacia honey and white sugar, while oligosaccharide-fed bees had the lowest longevity. CS-fed bees also exhibited larger hypopharyngeal glands, correlating with improved survival. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of Ilp2 and Vg and downregulation of Ilp1 in 14-day-old bees fed with CS which may be linked to enhanced longevity. Gut microbiome analysis showed the higher composition of Frischella in honey fed treatment groups and Bartonella in processed carbohydrates treated groups, potentially compensating for dietary amino acid deficiencies. However, the absence of core symbionts like Snodgrassella in CS-fed bees may weaken immunity and heighten disease susceptibility. These findings suggest starch-derived corn syrup as a promising carbohydrate source under laboratory conditions, however, long-term colony-level studies are essential to fully understand its benefits and potential risks. This research provides valuable insights for honey bee management and conservation strategies.

Identification of unique peptide markers for rape (Brassica napus L.) honey with untargeted and targeted proteomics approaches and its application in honey adulteration analysis.

The Addition of Acacia Honey to Kefir Results in Changes to Physicochemical and Microbiological Properties

Honey quality and authenticity are influenced by floral origin, processing, and storage, with implications for composition and sensory appeal. This study offers a comparative assessment of eight monofloral honey samples, representing five botanical varieties: acacia, linden, rapeseed, lavender, and thyme. For acacia, linden, and rapeseed, both producer-sourced and commercial honeys were analyzed, while lavender and thyme samples were available only from local beekeepers. The botanical origin of each sample was confirmed using morphological markers of pollen grains. Physicochemical characterization included acidity, pH, moisture content, refractive index, hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), proline concentration, and carbohydrate profiling by HPLC-RID. Acacia honey exhibited the lowest acidity and HMF levels, alongside the highest fructose/glucose (F/G) ratios, indicating superior freshness, lower crystallization risk, and a sweeter flavor profile. In contrast, rapeseed honey showed elevated glucose levels and the lowest F/G ratio, confirming its tendency to crystallize rapidly. All samples recorded proline concentrations well above the quality threshold (180 mg/kg), supporting their authenticity and proper maturation. The estimated glycemic index (eGI) varied between 43.91 and 62.68 and was strongly inversely correlated with the F/G ratio (r = -0.98, p < 0.001). Sensory evaluation highlighted acacia honey from producers as the most appreciated across visual, tactile, and flavor attributes. Correlation analyses further revealed consistent links between sugar composition and both physical and sensory properties. Overall, the findings reinforce the value of integrated analytical and sensory profiling in assessing honey quality and authenticity.

Kombucha is a sweetened tea infusion fermented using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Recently, kombucha has gained popularity due to its potential health benefits, attributed to its high antioxidant and probiotic properties. The aim of this research was to formulate a novel antioxidant-rich beverage with symbiotic benefits by utilizing ingredients such as Laminaria digitata (brown seaweed), cinnamon, and lavender adjuncts, alongside alternative substrates like acacia honey and conventionally used ingredients such as ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). This study comprehensively evaluated parameters including pH levels, acidity, alcohol content, color, and antioxidant potential of the beverages. All kombucha beverages exhibited significantly high antioxidant potential levels, particularly in Honey Kombucha (HK) samples, which ranged between 164.44 and 164.78% 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition, and 155.44–155.29 µg Trolox Equivalent (TE)/mL for the Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay on days 3 and 7. Sugar Kombucha Seaweed (SKS) and Sugar Kombucha Cinnamon (SKC) samples received the highest acceptability for flavor from the sensory panel, with scores of 87.5% and 70%, respectively. However, Honey Kombucha Ginger (HKG) received the lowest acceptability with only 12.5%. The added adjuncts and substrates significantly influenced the antioxidant potential compared to plain unfermented tea (PT). This research paper outlines well-characterized fermentation process for formulating health-promoting beverages utilizing locally sourced ingredients.

Spent osmotic solutions (sucrose, buckwheat honey, acacia honey, apple juice concentrate, chokeberry juice concentrate, cherry juice concentrate, and mannitol) were tested for their valorization to produce powders by spray drying. Simultaneously, the application of inulin as an alternative carrier was verified. The drying yield varied from 6 to 92%. For acacia honey, apple juice concentrate, chokeberry juice concentrate, and cherry juice concentrate, high stickiness was observed, which resulted in low yield and the production of significantly bigger particles of regular size distribution, higher hygroscopicity and bulk density, and better flowability. Sucrose, acacia honey, and mannitol were dried with lower stickiness, and the physical properties of the powders were acceptable. However, the yield of mannitol drying was low due to very small particles, low bulk density, and low cyclone efficiency. Therefore, sucrose and buckwheat honey solutions can be successfully spray dried using inulin as a carrier to produce powders suitable for further food applications. However, for the other tested materials, alternative carriers should be considered to reduce stickiness during drying.

This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effects of different honey types against Listeria monocytogenes strains. The antimicrobial activity of 40 honey samples, collected from different provinces of Türkiye and categorized as filtered floral honey, comb floral honey, acacia honey, and pine honey, was evaluated against 29 L. monocytogenes strains using the well diffusion method. The inhibition zone diameters formed by honey samples at 100% and 50% concentrations against L. monocytogenes strains ranged from 0.0 to 4.8 cm. The average inhibition zone diameter of the 100% honey samples was found to be 3.54 cm, while the average inhibition zone diameter of the 50% concentration was 3.30 cm. The 100% concentration of honey samples has higher antimicrobial activity, and when the honey samples are diluted, the antimicrobial activity decreases. Pine honey exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity in this study. Following pine honey, the antimicrobial effects decreased in the following order: filtered flower honey, comb flower honey, and acacia honey.

Chemical composition profiles of Apis cerana fabr. produced Acacia honey: a comparative study on optimal non-acidified ACN extraction with water-dilution by widely targeted metabolomics

Amoxicillin is one of the most prescribed antibiotics in the paediatric population. Currently available formulations (i.e., suspensions and tablets) suffer from limited acceptability often responsible for the therapeutic failure. In the present study it is proposed an innovative formulation for amoxicillin oral administration that could meet acceptability requirements of the paediatric population. Chewable gummy tablets were produced by the Pressure-Assisted Microsyringe 3D printing technology. As "ink" it was used a gel obtained by the co-formulation of corn starch with acacia honey. The optimized formulation, having a final dose of 200mg per unit, resulted visually appealing. Good accuracy between the computer-aided design and final 3D-printed product was evident as well. The fabricated gummy tablets (1.07±0.05g) showed acceptable mechanical properties such as hardness (150.52±5.67N), and gumminess (68.13±6.51N) when exposed to simulated salivary fluid. Moreover, the 3D-printed gummy tablets determined the almost complete release of the drug in the gastric environment within 2h and assured its permeation through the PermeaPad® membranes. The obtained results suggest that 3D printing is a versatile and scalable technology useful in the pharmaceutical industry to fabricate customized chewable formulations as a suitable alternative to conventional formulations for amoxicillin administration in the paediatric population.

High-resolution mass spectrometry-based assessment of chemical composition's effect on the honey color.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections is a major global public health concern. Human health is in danger from microorganisms that have developed resistance to currently used drugs. Honey is well known for its significant activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, the antibacterial properties of honey from various botanical sources in Saudi Arabia against seven significant nosocomial and foodborne pathogens were investigated. The physicochemical properties of four Saudi honey samples—aloe honey (HO1) (Aloe vera L.), anise honey (HO2) (Pimpinella anisum L.), moringa honey (HO4) (Moringa oleifera Lam.), and acacia honey (HO5) (Acacia sp.)—were examined. In addition, they were screened for antibacterial activity against ESKAPE pathogens (Enterobacter faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter sp.) and anti-biofilm activity against four pathogenic bacteria strains: S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, S. typhimurium, and E. coli. 1H NMR profiling and multivariate analysis (PCA and PLS-DA) were performed. Aloe honey (HO1) was the most distinct sample based on MVDA and its antibacterial activity, and it exhibited anti-biofilm activity against most biofilm-forming microorganisms. Its metabolic profile was deduced using LC-MS, and the resulting annotated compounds were docked against several β-lactamase enzyme classes. The results reveal the potential of honey-derived compounds to inhibit β-lactamases due to the presence of gallic acid hexoside and rosmarinic acid, suggesting their potential as competitive inhibitors. Our findings suggest that further honey antibacterial compounds could offer a novel approach to overcoming antibiotic resistance by targeting and inhibiting β-lactamase enzymes.