The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content of selected elements and physicochemical indicators of the honey of Apis mellifera. Samples of blossom, blend and honeydew honeys were randomly obtained from the Eastern, Western and Central of Slovakia. Contents of elements were measured with the use of flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) method and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) method with CGMDE as working electrode. The content of heavy metals (mg/kg dry weight) ranged as follows: Zn 0.25-3.82; Cu 0.12-1.37; Ni 0.06-0.60; Mg 0.10-50.43; Ca 10.32-87.21; Pb and Cd were under detectable limit (0.001 mg/kg). The physical and chemical indicators ranged as follows: moisture (%) 16.00-19.80; HMF (mg/kg) 10.00-40.00; pH 3.58-5.12; conductivity (mS/m) 13.45-99.12 and a(w) 0.456-0.659. Significant difference (P < 0.05) for elements and physicochemical indicators was analyzed. Significant correlations between Cu - Zn, Cu - Ni, Cu - Mg, Ca - Zn and Ca - Mg were detected. With reference to Codex Alimentarius of Slovakia, maximal levels of heavy metals content and selected physicochemical properties were not exceeded. On average, the content of trace elements decreased in the order: Ca > Mg > Zn > Cu > Ni and physicochemical indicators decreased: conductivity > HMF > moisture > pH > a(w).
The purpose of the study was to examine the antiradical activity of 11 natural honeys and to evaluate the antifungal properties of honey. Honey samples (10) were collected from different locations of Slovak Republic. Honeys were native to different plant species of Robinia pseudoacaccia, Brassica napus subs. napus, Castanea sativa Mill. Thymus serpyllum vulgaris and the other samples had multifloral origin. The low antiradical activitity in honey samples was determined. The best results were found in thyme honey from Rhodos (11.84 %) and Castanea honey from Nitra (10.61 %). The lowest antiradical activity was found in Acacia honey and determined to be 7.62 %. Statistically significant differences (P< 0.001) were found among thyme/Rhodos and Castanea/Nitra. The antifungal activities of honey samples were tested by 10 %, 25 % and 50 % (by mass per volume) concentration against fungi Penicillium crustosum, P. expansum, P. griseofulvum, P. raistrickii and P. verrucosum and by the agar well diffusion method. The solutions containing 10 % (by mass per volume) of honey did not have any effect on the growth of fungi. The strongest antifungal effect was shown by 50 % honey concentration against P. raistrickii.
The aim of this study was evaluation of microbial quality in raw materials (honey, pollen) and evaluation of microbial quality in honey mixture with pollen (2.91 % and 3.85 %) and also dynamics of microbial groups in honey mixtures with pollen after 14 days storage at the room temperature (approximately 25 °C) and in cold store (8 °C). We used dilution plating method for testing of samples. Detections of total plate microbial count (aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms), sporulating bacteria, coliform bacteria, Bifidobacterium sp., Lactobacillus sp. and microscopic fungi were performed. In general, counts of microorganisms decreased in honey mixture with pollen compared to raw pollen and these counts increased compared to natural honey. Total plate count was 5.37 log KTJ.g-1 in pollen; 1.36 log KTJ.g-1 in honey; 2.97 log KTJ.g-1 in honey mixture with 2.91 % pollen and 2.04 log KTJ.g-1 in honey mixture with 3.85 % pollen. Coliform bacteria were detected in pollen (1.77 log KTJ.g-1). Then, we found coliform bacteria in one sample of ho...
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