Comparative study of the physicochemical and palynological characteristics of honey from Melipona subnitida and Apis mellifera

Abstract

Summary Twenty‐four samples of Apis mellifera honey and twenty‐four samples of Melipona subnitida (Jandaira) honey were collected in the northeast of Brazil. Moisture, hydroxymethylfurfural, free acidity, insoluble solids in water, diastase activity, ashes, electrical conductivity, proteins, lipids, total carbohydrates, energy and sugars were the parameters analysed. The efficiency of the qualitative tests (Fiehe's test, Lugol's reaction, Lund's reaction) was tested. Pollen types and the corresponding plant species were identified in all samples (3 in Apis and 1 in Melipona). Apis mellifera honey samples demonstrated parameters in accordance with the Brazilian Legislation, while the Melipona subnitida honey samples displayed moisture (24.80%) and diastase activity (null) in discordance with the established by the regulation for Apis mellifera honeys. Apis honey samples presented higher values of electric conductivity (284.00 μS cm−1) than the obtained from the Jandaira honey samples (102.77 μS cm−1) as well as a darker colour (26.67 mmPfund) when compared with Jandaira honey (7.00 mmPfund). The concentration of the glucose, fructose and sucrose was higher in the Apis honeys than in the Jandaira honey. The characteristics of the two types of honey were very different, highlighting the need of developing specific legislation for stingless bees' honey.

Chemical Composition of Ecuadorian Commercial Pot-Honeys: Trigona fuscipennis "Abeja De Tierra", Melipona mimetica "Bermejo" and Scaptotrigona ederi "Catiana"

“…[42]; with a range of 4.95 to 51.7 meq/kg. In our study with five Melipona honeys, the variation of free acidity from 38.92 to 76.77 meq/kg is within the free acidity range of honey produced by eight Melipona species from Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Venezuela [20,38,[40][41][42].…”

“…Since the standards suggested by Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela in 2004 [16], and the review done to set quality standards in 2006 [17], the proposal of a norm for pot-honeys of the world is now supported by new data, e.g. from Argentina [18], Australia [19], Bolivia [20], Brazil [21], Colombia [22], Guatemala [23] and Venezuela [24].…”

Characterization of Selected Honey in South-East Nigeria: Theoretical Translation

“…The absorbance was measured at 284 and 336 nm against a filtered solution treated with NaHSO3. The HMF value were then determined using the following the equation below [10,12]. Where D = dilution factor and W = sample weight in grams: HMF (mg/kg of honey) = (Abs284-Abs336) X 149.7 X 5 X D/W.…”

“…Nevertheless, the beehive type does not affect their physicochemical properties [7]. Thus promoting honey with information on its characterization [8] has opened avenues for local products (exports) to meet international standards [9,10]. Hence, it created the need for legislation on honey quality given the vast bee species in existence [11,12].…”

Comparative study of honeys produced by Apis mellifera with meliponina honeys

“…Além disso, é um valioso produto, com uma longa tradição de consumo nas áreas de ocorrência dessas abelhas ao qual são atribuídos vários usos medicinais, além de possuir elevados preços de comercialização, apresentando demanda crescente no mercado. Entretanto ele não é incluído nas normas nacional ou internacional que regulam o mel, devido ao pouco conhecimento sobre a composição desse produto e da diversidade de espécies de abelhas existentes (Almeida-Muradian et al, 2013).…”