The threat to bees of neonicotinoid pesticides (NEOs) has raised concern. However, data on the disruption of the bee nervous system following long-term low-dose exposure are lacking. In this study, six NEOs were quantified in 31 honey samples from China, and their behavioral effects on bees were evaluated. Neonicotinoid pesticide detection rates ranged from 35.48% to 83.87%, with mean residue concentrations of 2.39-6.73 μg kg⁻¹. Clothianidin showed the highest detection frequency (83.87%), with an average residue of 5.54 μg kg-1. To assess neurotoxic effects at actual residue levels, bees were fed NEO-contaminated syrup for 21 days. This exposure significantly downregulated eight neurotransmitters, particularly 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and tryptophan (Trp), impairing normal physiological function. Behavioral assays showed reductions of 31.71% to 68.53% in displacement distance, 27.13% to 40.06% in movement rate, and 64.58% to 77.14% in inter-individual contact time. This study confirmed that the NEO residues in honey could hinder bees' ability to communicate and forage, with potential adverse effects on the development of bee populations. It demonstrated that bees exposed to real-world residue levels of NEOs exhibit neurological impairments. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microextraction of sulfonamide residues in honey prior to their analysis by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector.

High-performance magnetic solid-phase extraction-SWASV platform based on mercaptosuccinic acid-capped magnetic nanoparticles for simultaneous analysis of heavy metals in honey samples

Abstract This study was conducted to assess honey bee flora, handling practices and physicochemical characteristics of honey produced in Angacha district of Ethiopia. A total of 327 households were randomly selected to gather information on bee flora and honey handling assessment. Honey samples were drawn from the two agroecological zones (highland and midland), hive types (traditional and modern) and local market for physico-chemical analysis. In the district, 52% of respondents practiced honey straining, while the remaining did not, mainly due to a lack of straining materials and limited awareness. Plastic buckets were identified as the primary storage containers for honey. A total of twenty tree, shrub, and annual species were identified as potential honeybee plants through field observations and semi-structured interviews with local beekeepers and farmers. Comparison of physico-chemical values of honey samples collected from the two agroecological zones showed no significant ( p < 0.05) differences in moisture contents, ash, electrical conductivity, sucrose, fructose and free acidity levels of honey. Honey samples obtained from local markets showed significantly different ( p < 0.05) levels of ash, fructose, Hydroxy-methylfurfural (HMF) and Pfund readings (mm) compared to those collected directly from hives (both traditional and modern). For successful export to international markets, the HMF content must be reduced to meet the acceptable limits set by international quality standards. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into improving honey quality, postharvest handling, and market competitiveness of Ethiopian honey for both domestic and international trade.

This study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of monofloral honeys of different botanical origins. The antimicrobial activities of honey samples were tested on selected pathogenic microorganisms using the disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) analysis. The findings revealed that the antimicrobial effects of the tested honeys varied depending on their species and botanical origin. Manuka honey, in particular, stood out with its low MIC value (18.75%) and broad activity profile, while sunflower and chestnut honeys inhibited the most microorganisms, providing broad-spectrum activity. Citrus honey produced the greatest inhibition zone against Salmonella typhimurium. However, no honey type was effective against Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis. These results suggest that honey can be considered a natural antimicrobial agent and a supportive product in apitherapy applications and infection control. However, it should be noted that the effects vary depending on the microorganism species and honey composition.

As part of the research, 100 samples of different types of honey from Bosnia and Herzegovina were collected and analyzed. Melisopalynological preparations were prepared in accordance with the Rulebook on methods for the control of honey and other bee products of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in accordance with ICBB propositions. Plant species identification was performed based on micromorphological elements of pollen grains, and qualitative-quantitative analysis of honey samples was conducted. Melisopalynological analysis identified 47 distinct pollen types among a total of 30,000 pollen grains counted. In botanical terms, pollen from 24 plant families was recognized, among which the Fabaceae family had the greatest melissopalynological significance, whose pollen grains were found in as many as 86% of the analyzed profiles. Pollen grains of the Fabaceae family were identified as dominant in 22%, as accessory in 40%, as important in 21% and as minor in 3% of the palynological profiles. Based on micromorphological characters in melissopalynological spectra, species/genera from the Fabaceae family were identified: Robinia pseudoacacia L., Lotus corniculatus L., Trifolium pratense L., Trifolium repens L., Amorpha fruticosa L., Lathyrus sp., Medicago sativa L. and Onobrychis sp.

The presence of pesticide residues in honey represents a significant concern for food safety and public health, underscoring the need for advanced analytical techniques capable of ensuring accurate detection and effective food control. In this study, a stereolithographically 3D-printed device coated with the solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent Oasis MCX was developed for the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of pesticide residues in honey, followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (UHPLC-DAD) analysis. Variables that affect the performance of the 3D-printed extraction (i.e., design and fabrication of 3D-printed device, SPE resin, elution solution, pH, and ultrasonic conditions) and the chromatographic analysis were systematically evaluated. The optimized methodology allowed the simultaneous determination of five pesticides: azoxystrobin (AZO), carbaryl (CAR), pirimicarb (PIR), thiacloprid (THC), and thiamethoxam (THI). Chromatographic separation was completed in less than 15 min using a KinetexXB-C18 column (2.6µm, 100Å, 100×3mm), with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and 0.1% formic acid (pH 3.35). The proposed methodology showed satisfactory agreement compared with commercial QuEChERS dispersive SPE kits. The developed method demonstrated good linearity up to 100 mg L-1 (R2>0.99), low detection limits (0.002-0.5 mg kg-1), good precision (< 5.1 % RSD), and satisfactory recoveries (90-109 %). Its successful application to real honey samples demonstrates the method's potential for reliable multi-residue pesticide analysis in complex food matrices. The sample preparation stage was evaluated with the AGREEprep tool, yielding a greenness score of 0.43, which indicates a moderately green performance.

Honey is the best known and a widely used bee product, as well as one of the most defrauded foods. This paper focuses on the analysis of honey by different NMR techniques, complemented by some conventional methods to characterize food. Twenty-six honey samples of different botanical and geographical origins have been investigated. The chemical composition of honey samples in terms of water content and sugar concentrations was determined, and high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to identify, and in some cases to quantify, some of the minor chemical compounds considered important to discriminate the botanical origin of honey. Finally, we developed a model for molecular dynamics in honey, which was tested to analyse the 1H NMR relaxation dispersions as studied by fast field-cycling NMR relaxometry. In conclusion, an array of NMR techniques, ranging from high to low resolution, was applied to a broad set of honey samples from diverse botanical and geographical origins. The outcomes provide a foundation for future research and potential applications in honey authentication and characterization.

This study presents the development of a voltammetric sensing method utilizing a glassy carbon electrode modified with electrochemically exfoliated graphene oxide (EEGO) for detecting chloramphenicol (CAP), a broad-spectrum antibiotic of concern for food safety. EEGO was synthesized through an electrochemical exfoliation process using 0.25 M LiClO4 as the electrolyte and characterized using cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, confirming its favorable structural and electrochemical properties. The EEGO-modified electrode exhibited superior electrochemical performance compared to bare glassy carbon electrodes, offering a broader linear range (1.0–62.5 μM) and a lower detection limit (0.067 μM) for CAP. The enhanced performance of the EEGO-modified electrode can be attributed to the high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups of EEGO, which facilitate electron transfer and promote strong analyte adsorption. The proposed sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity and stability, maintaining its performance even in the presence of common interfering substances in food matrices. The developed method was successfully applied to determine CAP in milk and honey samples, with recovery values between 84.88% and 109.48%, demonstrating its potential for practical applications in food safety monitoring. The developed voltammetric method is characterized by its simplicity and high sensitivity, eliminating the need for complex sample pretreatment. This method effectively identifies CAP in food matrices, thereby contributing to the development of practical analytical tools for monitoring food safety.

Smartphone-assisted ratiometric fluorescence detection of sodium salicylate based on a dual-ligand Eu(III)-MOF.

The market demand of honey in Bangladesh is raising day by day, but there are concerns about the quality of both farm-fresh and branded honey which are available in the market. This study evaluates the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of farm-fresh and branded honey from the Bangladeshi market. The moisture content (MC) and total soluble solid (°Bx) were determined by refractometer; the electrical conductivity (EC) determined by digital conductivity meter; total phenol (TP), total flavonoid (TF) and HMF were measured by Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride and ultra high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD) respectively; and antioxidant capacity was assessed by 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. The results revealed that, farm-fresh honey samples exhibited greater content of moisture (>20%), (329.63 ± 1.63 to 986.05 ± 4.81 mg GAE/kg), total flavonoid (95.09 ± 4.99 to 454.73 ± 2.45 mg QE/kg) and antioxidant capacity (IC50 value of DPPH, 47.91 ± 0.19 to 73.66 ± 0.30 mg/mL) compared to branded honey samples (p < 0.05). The HMF amount was varied from 0.82 ± 0.00 to 241.24 ± 2.41 (mg/kg), with forty-two percent (42%) of branded honey samples exceeding both the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Codex Alimentarius standard limit (80 mg/kg), whereas all farm-fresh honey samples were within the acceptable limit. In multivariate analysis, the principal component (PC1 & PC2) analysis explains 81.30% of the total variance. Based on compliance with BSTI and Codex HMF limit, farm fresh honey samples meet the acceptable HMF threshold, whereas 42% of branded honey exceeded the standard limit. Analyzed 45 honey samples (farm-fresh, national, international) for physicochemical parameters; Farm-fresh honey exhibited higher moisture, phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity; 42% of branded honeys exceeded HMF standard limits (BSTI and Codex); all farm-fresh samples were within permissible limit.

Palynological descriptions of two hitherto unknown Bombacaceous pollen, identified in two different honey samples from Ilasan, near OkeIho, south-western Nigeria and Porto-Novo, south-eastern Bénin Republic are presented. Based on light microscopy, the Ilasan pollen (PA 38-40 μm, ED 50-52 μm) is tricolporate and oblate spheroidal. Its exine pattern is ornate and is characterised by three subtypes namely (i) separate (ii) semi-fused and (iii) fused columellae. The Porto-Novo pollen (PA 46.3 µm, ED 47.5 µm) is triporate with very thick annuli around each pore and oblate spheroidal; its exine is reticulate/subreticulate with discontinuously arranged columellae. Attempts were made to identify these pollen grains by comparing them with fossil Bombacacidite forms and extant species in the Bombacoideae and Durioneae (Malvaceae) from Africa, South-Central America and SouthEast Asia. Although some Bombacoideae pollen grains possess features similar to those in the bombacaceous pollen grains, none was an exact match. The unique features of the bombacaceous pollen may indicate that they belong to yet-to-be-described species in the Bombacoideae and/or Durioneae of the Malvaceae or related families.

A range of honey varieties is available in Nigerian markets, each reflecting the floral diversity of its region of origin. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of four honey samples collected from different locations Eke Osu, Afor Eziama, Eke Amichi and Nkwo Igbo in Nnewi South and Aguata Local Government Areas of Anambra State. The study aimed to assess the pollen diversity, physicochemical composition and botanical origin of these honey samples using standard analytical methods. A total of thirty-six (36) distinct pollen types belonging to twenty-two (22) plant families were identified. The percentage pollen counts across the samples were 650 (22.26%) in Eke Osu, 690 (23.63%) in Nkwo Igbo, 755 (25.85%) in Eke Amichi and 825 (28.25%) in Afor Eziama. Frequency analysis revealed secondary pollen types including Allophylus africanus, Lannea acida, Piliostigma sp. and Elaeis guineensis. The physicochemical parameters recorded were: pH (4.00– 5.00), moisture content (7.60%–8.21%), ash (0.09%–1.20%), protein (1.36%–1.98%), fat (1.05%–1.43%), polyphenols (60.73%–84.48%), free acidity (46.00–59.00 meq/kg) and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content (46.60–54.40 mg/kg). Sugar composition varied across samples, with fructose recording the highest value (49.00–57.00 mg/100 g), followed by glucose (39.00–49.00 mg/100 g) and lastly sucrose (5.30–7.17 mg/100 g). The results indicate that most of the parameters fall within the recommended quality standards for natural honey, confirming their suitability for human consumption.

The objective of this work was to determine and compare a comprehensive set of quality markers, including main physicochemical properties and element profiles, in samples of Bulgarian oak honeydew honey (OHH) and coniferous honeydew honey (CHH). This investigation utilized a total of seventeen honey samples from Bulgaria harvested in 2022. The sample set comprised ten oak honeydew honey samples, sourced from the Burgas region, and seven coniferous honeydew honey samples obtained from the Smolyan region. The parameters of OHH samples varied within the following ranges: color (80–134 mm Pfund), water content (15.20–18.40%), electrical conductivity (0.80–1.33 mS/cm), specific optical rotation (2.25–12.50), pH (3.92–4.50), total acidity (29.80–36.80 meq/kg), diastase activity (18.36–27.58 Gothe units), invertase activity (56–196 U/kg), proline content (155–477 mg/kg), and hydroxymethylfurfural (3.28–8.94 mg/kg). The CHH samples gave the following results: color (40–87 mm Pfund), water content (16.40–19.00%), electrical conductivity (0.80–1.26 mS/cm), specific optical rotation (−17.50–(−11.50)), pH (3.40–3.75), total acidity (25.80–39.40 meq/kg), diastase activity (23.15–26.05 Gothe units), invertase activity (69–138 U/kg), proline content (287–651 mg/kg), and hydroxymethylfurfural (1.50–3.96 mg/kg). The elements Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, and Mn were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (FAAS), while Flame Atomic Emission Spectrometry (FAES) was used for K and Na determination. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis was used to assess six elements (Al, Ba, Co, P, Sr, Zn). The elements Cd, Ni, and Pb were determined by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS). Potassium is the most abundant macro element in all investigated samples ranging 2332–2370 µg/g in CHH and 1846–1878 µg/g in OHH. Other examined elements are in the following descending order, Mg > P > Na > Ca > Mn > Al > Fe > Zn > Cu > Ba > Sr, presenting in µg/g levels, while Pb > Ni > Co > Cd are present in µg/kg levels. This work constitutes the first report on the physicochemical parameters and chemical elements of coniferous honeydew honey from Bulgaria.

ABSTRACT This study presents a comprehensive pollen spectra analysis of Apis mellifera L. honey samples collected from different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh, India. The collected samples were investigated for their floral diversity through melissopalynological studies. Results revealed the presence of 184 pollen morphotypes from 36 honey samples. The predominant pollen family across all zones was Fabaceae. Out of 36 samples, 10 were observed as unifloral with predominant pollen types of Justicia adhatoda, Dalbergia sissoo, Eucalyptus hybrida, Syzygium cumini, Sapindus mukorossi, Melaleuca citrina, Robinia pseudoacacia, Aesculus indica, Plectranthus rugosus, and Thymus linearis, while the remaining 26 were found to be multifloral in origin. The honeys were also observed to be unadulterated, as they contained a sufficient amount of pollen types. Pollen content varied from extremely poor (13,000 pollens per 10g of honey) to very rich (5,45,000). The hierarchical clustering and heatmap depicted a two-dimensional clustering of honey samples and pollen types. The honey samples were grouped into four clusters, with the majority of samples (20) in the first cluster, followed by the second (13), third (1), and the fourth cluster (2). Similarly, the pollen types were also grouped into four clusters, with 6, 10, 102, and 4 pollen types in the first, second, third, and fourth cluster, respectively. These findings suggest that the studied area harbours rich floral diversity that significantly contributes to enhancing honey production, besides facilitating the production of unique unifloral honeys that can be attributed as geographical indications (GI) specific to the region.

Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination and global food security, yet their populations are declining due to various environmental stressors, including pathogenic infections. Recently, molecular research in honey has been proposed as a powerful, non-invasive tool for detecting and monitoring honey bee pathogens and parasites. This study analysed 679 honey samples from all Italian regions to detect the presence of 8 pathogens (DWV, CBPV, ABPV, BQCV, KBV, Nosema ceranae, Crithidia mellificae, Lotmaria passim) using qPCR assays. Overall, 97.5% of the honey samples tested positive for at least one pathogen, with the most prevalent being DWV (81.7%), N. ceranae (56.1%), and CBPV (56.0%). None of the samples tested positive for KBV or C. mellificae. Statistical analyses revealed significant variations in pathogen prevalence and copy number depending on the honey type, geographic origin and correlations among different pathogens. Additionally, co-presence was common, with over 77% of honey samples containing multiple pathogens. These findings support honey analysis as an effective and valid method for pathogen surveillance in honey bee populations. By providing valuable insights into disease dynamics, this approach could enhance epidemiological monitoring and contribute to improved honey bee health management strategies.

Investigation of HMF Levels During the Decrystallization of Different Honey Samples

Unveiling the culturable and non-culturable yeast biodiversity in chaste honey produced by the sympatric Apis cerana and Apis mellifera from eastern China.

Chia seed mucilage biosorbent synergism with hydrophobic iron (III)-natural phenolic nanoparticles for dispersive solid-phase extraction of tetracycline residues in milk and honey samples before HPLC analysis.

Bioindication of radioactive contamination by honey bees in the Bryansk and Rostov regions: Foraging dynamics of 137Cs and 40K in the plant-bee-bee product pathway.