This study investigated the phytochemical composition of honey from four species of
Malaysian stingless bee i,e. Tetragonula laeviceps, Geniotrigona thoracica, Lepidotrigona
terminata, as well as Heterotrigona itama. The measured phytochemical composition was
total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity, pH,
colour intensity, and mineral element analysis i.e. Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Zinc
(Zn), Potassium (K), and Sodium (Na). The production of honey by the L. terminata had
the highest TPC value (6.74±0.57 mg GAE/100 g FW) while the T. laeviceps possesses
the highest TFC value (14.85±3.71 mg QE/100 g FW). In the antioxidant activity
measurement, honey from the H. itama obtained the highest percentage of 1,1-diphenyl-2-
picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition (29.52±0.45%) and honey from T. laeviceps displayed
the highest value in the Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) analysis (0.95±0.013
abs). The four distinct stingless bee species’ colour intensity demonstrated the variation of
colour intensity in the range of 0.09-0.23 abs mAU. All honey obtained the pH values
(4.75-5.03) within the acidic medium. Mg is the major mineral element in all honey
samples which is followed by Na, Ca, K, and Zn.
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