Alkane composition variations between darker and lighter colored comb beeswax

Abstract

-Beeswax is composed of fatty acids, odd numbered n-alkanes and wax esters. Focusing on the most stable components of beeswax, namely the n-alkanes, we have found by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of combs from twelve colonies from Israel and Jordan that as beeswax ages and darkens its n-alkane composition changes. The amount of even numbered n-alkanes (C 22 -C 32 ) is significantly higher in darker colored beeswax as compared to light colored beeswax. We attribute this in part to the accumulation of cuticular residues found in the darker colored comb cells. Cuticular residues are known to contain C 23 -C 32 odd and even numbered n-alkanes.beeswax / color / n-alkane / cuticle / GC-MS

Hydrocarbon Composition of Beeswax (Apis Mellifera) Collected from Light and Dark Coloured Combs

“…The content of even-numbered alkanes was slightly higher and amounted to 5.8% in the samples of the beeswax from dark combs, while in the virgin beeswax was 5.1%. Higher contents of even-numbered alkanes in the beeswax obtained from dark combs in comparison to the content of these alkanes in the virgin beeswax were also indicated by Jimenez et al (2007), and Namdar et al (2007). The higher contents of hydrocarbons in the beeswax obtained from dark combs confirm previous results reported by Curyło and Zalewski (1957), and also by Tulloch and Hoffman (1972).…”

“…Differences in the content of hydrocarbons in beeswax obtained from light and dark combs were also observed by Tulloch and Hoffman (1972). Furthermore, Jimenez et al (2007) and Namdar et al (2007) determined a higher content of alkanes with even numbers of carbon atoms in the molecule, in beeswax obtained from dark combs. Knowledge of the hydrocarbon composition of beeswax has proved to have a crucial meaning, mainly due to detection of this product's adulteration with much cheaper hydrocarbons of alien origin, e.g.…”

The contents of unusual cone-shaped vessels (cornets) from the Chalcolithic of the southern Levant

“…6), in addition to palmitic acid and n-triacontanol. There were no noticeable differences between the extracts of the natural, unpurified light and dark colored beeswax, since both types also contain bees' body parts, although to different extents (Namdar et al, 2007). We also placed bees' cuticles and other body part Cornet, pedestal bowl, holemouth jar C x refers to n-alkane with x carbons in its chain; C x:0 refers to fatty acid with x carbons in its chain and 0 of unsaturation; C x ol refers to n-alcohol with x carbons in its chain.…”

“…Namdar et al (2007) analyzed modern wild hives of Apis mellifera from 11 different locations in Israel and one from Jordan. These beehives contained both light colored beeswax, and darker colored beeswax.…”

Application of Principal Component Analysis for evaluation of chemical and antimicrobial properties of honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom

“…In the literature many reports about the variation of chemical composition of bee products have been reported, including variations between different origins of honey (Benedetti et al, 2004), pollen (Köppler et al, 2007), propolis (Bankova et al, 1998), royal jelly (Boselli et al, 2003), beeswax (Namdar et al, 2007) and bee venom (Leluk et al, 1989;Schumacher et al, 1992;Palma and Brochetto-Braga, 1993). There do not, however, appear to be any publications concerning differences in the chemical composition of honey bee venom in relation to its antimicrobial activity.…”