Natural Honey Samples Research Articles

Composite "Crosslinked Polyvinyl Alcohol-Magnetite" as a Stimuli-Responsive Matrix for Optical Methods.

The preparation and application of the composite material "crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol-magnetite" as a sensitive matrix for use in digital colorimetry and optical micrometry methods are discussed. The material was synthesized in the form of spherical granules (for micrometry) and thin films (for digital colorimetry). The obtained composites were characterized by the registration of magnetization curves. It was shown that the amount of grown Fe3O4 particles in the polymer gel is in linear dependence with the iron salt concentrations in the impregnating solutions. The composite granules were applied to determining monosaccharides using optical micrometry. The optimal pH value for the total amount of monosaccharides' determination was 8.6. The study of the analytical response of composite granules and films performed with a low limit of detection (7.9 mmol/dm3) of both glucose and fructose and a possibility of the control of high alcohol contention in water media. The granules were used to determine the total carbohydrate content in samples of natural honey and syrups with high fructose contents, while the films were used to control the alcohol content in hand antiseptics. The results obtained are in good agreement with the data provided by the manufacturers.

Melissopalynology Characterization of Pakistani Honey

The aim of the study was to add latest scientific information regarding bee flora through pollen analysis available for honeybees in different districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. A total of 50 honey samples, natural (n=32) and branded (n=18) were collected and examined as per the method recommended by International Honey Commission. Natural honey samples were collected from beekeepers. Pollens of families Poacea (26.5%), Azadirachta spp. (22%), Citrus spp. (17.45%), Pisum spp. (16.41%), Ziziphus spp. (13.99%), Prosopis spp. (13.13%), Brassica spp. (8.57%), Malvacea (8.08%), Syzygium spp. (7.29%), Cassia spp. (6.2%), Acacia spp. (5.17%) and Eucalyptus spp. (4.35%) were common in both branded and fresh honeys. Whereas Morus spp. (8.5%), Moringa spp. (4.46%), Psidium spp. (4.23%), Bombax spp. (1.9%), Mangifera spp. (1.9%) were found in fresh honeys only. Similarly, four different types of Pollens (Melilotus spp. (8.6%), Alfa spp. (6.4%), Benincasa spp. (6.4%) and Halianthus spp. (4.3%)) were detected exclusively in various branded honeys Muqeet (n=4), Sary (n=2), Swat honey, Marhaba (n=3), Youngs (Beehive), Ubqari, Salman (Pak honey) Al-Shifa, Ponam, Langanase and Aftab Qarshi. There was a correlation (r=0.24) between pollens of same taxa and families in branded and fresh honeys. High quality pictures were taken by camera fitted on light microscope.

Palyno–morphological and isotopic characterization of monofloral and multifloral honeys from Lucknow, India

We describe and illustrate the detailed palyno–morphological attributes, based on light microscopy (LM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), as well as characterize the carbon stable isotopic (δ13C) values of filtered and unfiltered natural and commercial honey samples from Lucknow, India. The principal objective behind conducting the melissopalynological investigation is to gather relevant information about the pollen and nectar sources, foraged by honey bees in an area, which is a decade–old expansion of the city on an arable land. The pollen assemblages revealed one monofloral and two multifloral honey samples, ultimately provide insights into the variety of plants foraged by honey bees in an urban set–up, and is a potential archive for observing decadal changes in plant diversity. The carbon stable isotopic (δ13C) values of all the natural honeys varied from ~ –25 to –26‰, which relates to the regional vegetation types and environmental conditions. The difference between the filtered (without pollen) and unfiltered honey is ≤ 1.00‰. The δ13C values of the three commercial honey, which are filtered /without pollen are same i.e. –27‰. Hence, it is suggested that honey with pollen of diverse flora of the study area should be preferred by the consumers as a pure and also as a clinically safe food product.

Evaluation of honey authenticity in Thailand by analysis of carbon stable isotope ratio using elemental analyser coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry and cavity ring‐down spectrometry

SummaryIn Thailand, honey is used in a variety of commercial products that are distributed in domestic markets and abroad. As honey in Thailand comes from many locations, it is challenging to control the production quality of commercial products. The main problem commonly found in the honey industry is adulteration with undeclared added sugars. Identification of adulterated honey is crucial for authentication, which can increase consumer confidence on honey purity. In this study, 49 honey samples from beekeepers (natural) and 15 commercial honey producers were collected from different cities across Thailand. They were analysed for stable carbon isotope ratios (expressed as 13C/12C or δ13C and reported in relation to the international reference standard unit Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite, ‰ VPDB) using Elemental Analysis Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA‐IRMS) for developing a δ13C database of natural honey and for checking the adulteration of honey. The δ13C values detected in 49 natural honey samples varied from −23.1‰ to −29.1‰ VPDB with an average of −26.8 ± 1.2‰ VPDB. According to the AOAC standard (No. 998.12, 2019), natural honey should have δ13C values lower than −23.5‰ VPDB, with an acceptable difference in δ13C values between honey and the protein extracted from honey up to 1‰. Compared to the standard guideline, 60% of commercial honey samples collected for this study (9 out of 15 samples) were found to contain undeclared added sugars.

СРАВНЕНИЕ ОРГАНОЛЕПТИЧЕСКИХ И ФИЗИКО-ХИМИЧЕСКИХ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ НАТУРАЛЬНОГО И ФАЛЬСИФИЦИРОВАННОГО МЕДА

Currently, such falsifications of honey as «sugar honey» (obtained by feeding bees with sugar syrup during the honey collection time) and «artificial honey» (obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of sucrose) are the most common and difficult to detect. To identify them, the comprehensive assessment of organoleptic and physicochemical parameters is carried out. It’s a labor- and time-consuming process, and, unfortunately, doesn’t always guarantee obtaining objective results. The paper presents the results of palynological, organoleptic and physicochemical analyzes of these falsifications, as well as samples of natural linden tree honey. It has been established that both falsifications were characterized by a low content of pollen grains. The analysis of their organoleptic parameters didn’t reveal significant deviations from the standards. The reliable data have been obtained as the result of a comprehensive assessment of physicochemical parameters, both regulated by State Standards and some additional ones. The determination of hydrogen peroxide content (H2O2 ) is the most promising additional indicators.

Botanical characterisation of natural honey samples from a high altitudinal region, Gümüşhane, east-Türkiye

The aim of our study is to determine important honey resources and botanical characterisation of honey in a high-altitude region of Türkiye. Natural honey samples were collected from all possible locations in 2017. The melissopalynological analysis identified 14 unifloral honey samples, and many plants were also determined as important sources for multifloral honey. Principal component analysis separated honey samples from low-altitude regions while high-altitude regions form a tight cluster. Pollen diversity was found to be lower in honeys at low altitudes and higher pollen diversity was found in honeys at high altitudes. Altitude plays an important role in the pollen content of the honey, with Cornus mas, Asteraceae, and Hypericum being indicator pollen types above 1500 m; Castanea sativa and Myosotis pollen were found predominant or secondary under 1100 m altitude. This has allowed the altitude preferences of some plants, which are important for beekeeping, to be associated with the location of the apiaries and, therefore, the composition of the honey.

Determination of reducing carbohydrates in natural honey samples by optical micrometry method

The present article deals with the determination of the total amount of glucose and fructose in natural honey samples by the optical micrometry (OM) method. (Poly)vinyl alcohol spherical granules impregnated with a 0.05 mol/l borax solution were chosen as a sensitive element. It was shown that the formation of chelate esters of boron with polymer and carbohydrates is a pH-dependent process, and that the pH range 8.5–10.0 is the most appropriate for quantifying the total amount of reducing carbohydrates because glucose and fructose are undiscriminated. The impregnated polymer is not sensitive to the sucrose presence in the solution due to the absence of cis-diol fragments in it. Subsequently, the OM method was tested in the analysis of natural honey samples. The relative standart deviation in the case of OM method is less than 6%, and the results are similar to those obtained by the iodometric titration method. This makes the OM method suitable for laboratory-scale applications.

Electrochemical Sensing of Pb2+ and Cd2+ Ions with the Use of Electrode Modified with Carbon-Covered Halloysite and Carbon Nanotubes.

A novel voltammetric method for the sensitive and selective determination of cadmium and lead ions using screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) modified with carbon-deposited natural halloysite (C_Hal) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was developed. The electrochemical properties of the proposed sensor were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), while the morphology and structure were established by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). A two-factorial central composite design (CCD) was employed to select the composition of the nanocomposite modifying the electrode surface. The optimal measuring parameters of differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) used for quantitative analysis were established with the Nelder–Mead simplex method. In the analytical investigation of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions by DPASV, the MWCNTs/C_Hal/Nafion/SPCE exhibited a linear response in the concentration range of 0.1–10.0 µmol L−1 (for both ions) with a detection limit of 0.0051 and 0.0106 µmol L−1 for Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of metal ions in different natural water and honey samples with recovery values of 96.4–101.6%.

Pollen Analysis of Natural Honey Sample from the Chikhli taluka of Gujarat state India

Diverse kinds of pollen and nectar forage by honey bees generate numerous types of honey which can be explored for the establishment of beekeeping venture in an area . The taluka of chikhli is rich floristically but neither pollen analytical study. Considering this, the present work has been undertaken to develop melissopalynological database from the chikhli taluka and to evaluate the potential of the study area for apiculture. Pollen analysis of 6 natural honey samples collected from the six different village of chikhli taluka reveals that 2 are uniflorae, 4 multiflorae . plant species used for study are : Acacia nilotica , Sesamum indikum , Trachyspermum ammi , Anethum sowa, Brassica nigra, and mix type of honey sample. There were many bee plant , which provides pollen and nectar throughout the year. it was found that on a average Ajwain honey contained the highest moisture (19.9)followed by Mustard (18.7%) and mix honey (18.4%). The lowest moisture (17.4%) was found in Babool honey. Highest carbohydrates obtained in Babool (78.99) and Sowa honey (78.85%) respectively . the lowest carbohydrates was found in mustard (74.27) honey. Highest natural sugar was found in mustard (74.89%)honey followed by Dill (72.70%). The lowest natural sugar found in babool (70.63%)honey. The findings recommend that the competent authority, on the basis of this pollen analytical data, may initiate bee-keeping ventures in this economically backward area and the beekeepers may have the opportunity to share the profitable medicinal honey market. This would benefit the rural health care improving the socio-economy of the local inhabitants of this region.

Antifungal Activity of Honey Samples from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan) as affected by Botanical Origin

The present study evaluated the antifungal activity of honey samples collected from different locations at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK, Pakistan). Disc diffusion method was used to test the antifungal potential of twenty-one (branded, unbranded, and natural comb) honey samples from the different botanical origins at different concentrations (undiluted, 10%, 30%, and 50%, w/v) against Candida albicans and Rhodotorula species. Branded, unbranded, and natural comb honey samples generate different inhibition zones (4-13 mm, 5-15 mm, and 8-17 mm) against Rhodotorula species. Candida albicans showed resistance for all tested honey samples. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Candida albicans and Rhodotorula species were 53.33%-88.12% and 1.76%-90.22% for branded, 61.3% – 93.8% and 9.90% – 95.5% for unbranded, and 67.1%-96.8% and 6.39%-98.8% for natural comb honey. In conclusion, natural comb honey from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may have antifungal therapeutic potential and could be a useful source for generating functional food.

Comparison of Antioxidant Enzymes in Natural and Commercial Honey

Honey is popular all over the world and used commonly in medicines and food. This study was designed to compare the natural and commercial honey for their antioxidant enzymes. In this study, 11 different honey samples were collected from different areas of Balochistan. The activity of different antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase enzymes were measured and compared by standard curves of pure enzymes moreover, protein content was also determined by using Bradford Assay. Results showed that highest protein content was found in one of the natural honey samples (4.42 ± 0.02 U/mg) enzymes like superoxide dismutase showed highest activity of (4.93 ± 0.06 U/mg) secondly peroxidase activity of (0.34 ± 0.02 U/mg) and third catalase activity of (0.22 ± 0.01 U/mg) in different natural honey samples. The current study demonstrated that higher concentration of protein content and antioxidant enzymes were found in natural honey which means they are good source of antioxidants. Therefore, antioxidant enzymes can be used as markers for determining the purity and quality of honey.

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Different Honey Samples against Clinical Isolates.

Background The emergence of multi-drug-resistant organisms has created a lot of clinical problems. Hence, there is a need to find natural alternative treatment to counter the multi-drug-resistant organisms. Honey has a well-established usage as wound dressing in ancient and traditional medicine. Objective The objective of this study is to establish a baseline for the antibacterial activity of 32 global raw natural and commercial various honey samples against 8 clinical isolates. Methods Thirty-two honey samples (raw and commercial honey) collected from different global countries with different floral origins were tested in vitro for antibacterial activity against 8 clinical isolates collected from patients, at private hospital from Sudan, using disk diffusion technique. The following 6 epsilometer tests (Etest), amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and tetracycline, were used against 8 clinical isolates for Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Results The following 8 clinical isolates were identified by conventional bacteriological methods: Staphylococcus aureus, (S. aureus) Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris), Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi), Shigella sonnei (S. sonnei), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Both raw natural and commercial honey exhibited antibacterial properties against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The tested organisms showed low sensitivity to antibiotic Etest. Conclusion All of the bacterial species studied were uniformly receptive to all raw and commercial tested honey samples; in contrast, the tested organisms showed low sensitivity to antibiotics. Commercial honey has the same antibacterial activity as the raw natural unprocessed honey against tested clinical isolates. Thus, honey is a successful alternative to conventional antibiotics as has been proved against clinical isolates.

The Antibacterial Activity of Three Samples of Natural Honey Collected from Algerian Territory on The Growth of Helicobacter Pylori.

The Antibacterial Activity of Three Samples of Natural Honey Collected from Algerian Territory on The Growth of Helicobacter Pylori.

Validation of analytical method for (E)-2-decenedioic acid quantification in honey samples

Natural honey is a highly sought-after product owing to its biological uniqueness. We developed a suitable analytical method for the quantitative analysis of (E)-2-decenedioic acid in Korean natural and sugar-fed honey samples. A total of 258 honey samples were screened using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) for the detection and quantification of (E)-2-decenedioic acid. (E)-2-decenedioic acid was present in high concentrations (122–127 mg/kg) in sugar-fed honey but only in trace amounts (10.9–14.8 mg/kg) in natural honey. Findings indicate that the UPLC method is suitable and reliable for the quantitative evaluation of (E)-2-decenedioic acid in honey. We expect that this method will be applicable for detecting honey adulteration.

Effects of the Carbohydrate Sources Nectar, Sucrose and Invert Sugar on Antibacterial Activity of Honey and Bee-Processed Syrups.

Honey is a functional food with health-promoting properties. Some types of honey are used in wound care for the treatment of acute and chronic infected wounds. Increased interest in using honey as a functional food and as a base for wound care products causes limited availability of raw honey. Numerous studies suggest that the protein content of honey is mainly comprised of bee-derived proteins and peptides, with a pronounced antibacterial effect. Therefore, the aim of our study was to characterize for the first time the antibacterial activity of raw honeys and bee-processed syrups which were made by processing sucrose solution or invert sugar syrup in bee colonies under field conditions. Furthermore, we compared the contents of glucose oxidase (GOX) and the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in honey samples and bee-processed syrups. These parameters were also compared between the processed sucrose solution and the processed invert sugar syrup. Our results clearly show that natural honey samples possess significantly higher antibacterial activity compared to bee-processed syrups. However, no differences in GOX contents and accumulated levels of H2O2 were found between honeys and bee-processed syrups. Comparison of the same parameters between bee-processed feeds based on the two artificial carbohydrate sources revealed no differences in all measured parameters, except for the content of GOX. The amount of GOX was significantly higher in bee-processed sucrose solutions, suggesting that processor bees can secrete a higher portion of carbohydrate metabolism enzymes. Determination of honey color intensity showed that in bee colonies, bee-processed syrups were partially mixed with natural honey. Further research is needed to identify the key botanical compounds in honey responsible for the increased antibacterial potential of honey.

Assessment of antibacterial potential of Natural and Commercial Honey samples against Wound Isolates

Background: Antibiotic resistance has surged the development and exploration of new, improved and effective natural products from plants and other sources like Honey has been rediscovered as a therapy for wounds, both in-vitro studies and in clinical trials. It has been observed to exert bacteriostatic and bactericidal potentials against pathogenic bacteria, including drug-resistant strains. The following study aimed to isolate and identify bacteria from wound infections and to investigate the antibacterial activity of honey samples; natural and commercial honey, against common clinical wound Pathogens.
 Methodology: Bacteria from wound samples of patients with injured legs were isolated using differential and selective agars, while the antibacterial activity of natural and commercial honey samples was determined by agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC).
 Results: The results indicated that natural honey has more potential to exert antibacterial activity with an 18-30mm zone of inhibition, which was significantly higher as compared to commercial honey with a 13-23mm zone of inhibition. MIC of natural honey was visible in most of the test organisms at25µg/ml as compared to commercial honey with only Bacillus sp and Staphylococcus sp2 at 50 µg/ml while Staphylococcus sp1 at 25µg/ml.
 Conclusion: The results propose due to a significant difference in the antibacterial activity of natural and commercial honey, these findings would help experts from the health sciences in the selection of the type of honey as an apitherapy for wound care and management.

Assessment of antibacterial potential of Natural and Commercial Honey samples against Wound Isolates

Assessment of antibacterial potential of Natural and Commercial Honey samples against Wound Isolates

Detection of adulteration in Chinese honey using NIR and ATR-FTIR spectral data fusion.

The aim of this study is to find a fast, accurate, and effective method for the detection of adulteration in honey circulating in the market. Near-infrared spectroscopy and mid-infrared spectroscopy data on natural honey and syrup-adulterated honey were integrated in the experiment. A method for identifying natural honey and syrup-adulterated honey was established by incorporating these data into a Support Vector Machine (SVM). In this experiment, 112 natural pure honey samples of 20 common honey types from 10 provinces in China were collected, and 112 adulterated honey samples with different percentages of syrup (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60%) were prepared using six types of syrup commonly used in industry. The total number of samples was 224. The near- and mid-infrared spectral data were obtained for all samples. The raw spectra were pre-processed by First Derivative (FD) transform, Second Derivative (SD) transform, Multiple Scattering Correction (MSC), and Standard Normal Variate Transformation (SNVT). The above-corrected data underwent low-level and intermediate-level data fusion. In the last step, Grid Search (GS), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) were employed as the optimization algorithms to find the optimal penalty parameter c and the optimal kernel parameter g for the SVM, and to establish the best SVM-based detection model for natural honey and syrup-adulterated honey. The results reveal that, compared to low-level data fusion, intermediate-level data fusion significantly improves the detection model. With the latter, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the optimal SVM model all reach 100%, which makes it ideal for the identification of natural honey and syrup-adulterated honey.

Determining Honey Adulteration by Seeding Method: an Initial Study with Sunflower Honey

In the present study, a novel method was developed to determine honey adulteration. Natural sunflower honey (A), adulterated honey (B), indirectly adulterated honey obtained by feeding of bee colonies using sugar syrup (C), mixtures of them (AB and AC), and two additional natural sunflower honey samples coming from different geographical regions (D and E) were examined after seeding at different levels (1, 5, 10%, w/w) of crystallized honey. The physico-chemical property, FT-IR spectra, thermodynamic property (Tp and ΔH), flow behavior [storage (G′) and loss (G″) modulus], and microstructural changes of the samples were investigated. According to the obtained results, natural sunflower honeys showed different visco-elastic and flow behaviors from adulterated honeys. The microstructure properties were also different and more homogeneous, and faster crystallization was detected in natural honey (A). The results of this study notably show that honey adulteration can be determined by examining honey crystallization behaviors. Therefore, it is thought that the industry will benefit from this easy and simple method instead of time-consuming, expensive, and complex methods used for determining honey adulteration.

Melliferous resources in Charyshsky district (Altai Krai)

The present paper provides results and analysis of floristic composition and vegetation resources of Charyshsky district, Altai Krai. Crop production in Altai Krai is of primary importance for apiculture. Melliferous resources of cultivated plants as well as of native plants are displayed in the paper. Vegetation resources are sorted out into groups, number of species in each group is counted. We conducted melissopalynological studies of honey samples from Charyshsky district and identified taxonomic diversity of pollen spectrum of natural honey samples, and their compliance with the basic melliferous plants. In the melliferous base of Charyshsky district locality there were identified 185 species of mellifers (19, 6% of total species number). Model plots of Charyshsky district refer to mountain-forest zone and have the most stable honey harvest, due to a wide range of plants species. Melissopalynology studies showed that honey samples of Charyshsky district are polyfloral. The pollen composition of honey reflects the type of vegetation in the area. Analysis of honey samples collected from Charyshsky district model plots located in the mountain forest zone (Altai Krai) revealed that the pollen of the families Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae is prevailing, while on the model plots of the third type found in field agrocoenoses the pollen of the family Polygonaceae is predominating. Midlands and lowlands with fir–aspen forests with tall herbaceous plants (black taiga) have high melliferous potential. Melliferous resources along with other types of vegetation resources are being destroyed as a result of human economic activity (arable land, grazing, forestry activities) therefore it is necessary to provide environmental resource management and resource efficiency approach.