The aim of the present study was to investigate the volatile fraction and discriminate 34 commercial thyme honeys from Morocco, Egypt, Spain, and Greece according to geographical origin, using key volatile compounds in combination with chemometrics. Sixty-two volatile compounds belonging to different classes were identified and semi-quantified using headspace solid phase micro-extraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). Applying chemometric analyses to 17 volatiles (p < 0.05), honeys were successfully discriminated according to geographical origin. Correct classification rate was 88.2% using the cross-validation method. Volatile compounds proved to be a powerful tool for discriminating commercial thyme honeys from different countries.

The philosophy of the present work was to investigate the volatile profile, pigment content, and in vitro radical scavenging activity of Hellenic honeys, using aqueous honey solutions. Twenty-one honey samples representing flower, thyme and fir honeys were donated from professional beekeepers during two consecutive harvesting years, from three different regions in Hellas.Volatile profile was estimated using headspace solid phase micro extraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HSPME-GC/MS). For semi-quantification purposes the internal standard method was used. Pigment content along with the in vitro radical scavenging activity was determined using spectrophotometric methods.Results showed that the twenty-one honeys analyzed exhibited variations in volatile profile, pigment content and antioxidant activity depending on the floral source (p<0.05). Honey aroma was found to be the outcome of the combination of different class compounds, namely: carboxylic acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, benzene derivatives, etc. The most pronounced aromas were recorded for flower honey, whereas fir honey possessed the highest pigment content and radical scavenging activity (p<0.05). In addition, specific volatiles (2-hydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester, alpha-pinene, para-cymene, and delta-3-carene) were perfectly correlated (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 1) with radical scavenging activity (p<0.01).The present results enhance the quality control and authenticity of Hellenic honey and may be of great interest to a wider audience including: consumers, honey industry, and honey researchers, at an international level.

In the present study, the effect of different parameters on the correct geographical differentiation of Greek fir honey was investigated. Fortythree honey samples were collected from four regions and subjected to physicochemical and melissopalynological analyses, using official and instrumental methods. Results showed that fir honeys met the European regulatory quality standards, whereas significant differences (p < 0.05) were recorded for all the determined parameters according to geographical origin. The highest differentiation rate (81.4%) was recorded using the combination of six physicochemical parameters and five phenolic compounds, as assessed by multivariate analyses. ARTICLE HISTORY

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