Determination of Quality Parameters of Honey from Taraba State – Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality parameters of honey samplescollected from different locations in Taraba State, in terms of physicochemical properties such as colour, specific gravity, refractive index, viscosity, moisture content, ash content, free acidity, lactone acidity, total acidity, pH value, electrical conductivity, sugar content, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, diastase activity and protein content. The results showed that mean values of honey temperature ranges from29.4± 0.49 to 38.5± 0.27°C; colour, light amber to dark amber; specific gravity, 1.30±0.01 to 1.48±0.01; refractive index, 1.47±0.01 to 1.50±0.02; viscosity, 23.2±0.10 to 34.2±0.10 Pas; moisture content, 11.27±0.01 to 19.70±0.01%; ash content, 0.14±0.01 to 0.52±0.04%; free acidity, 14.86±0.03 to 32.74±0.01 meqkg-1 ; lactone acidity, 1.58±0.01 to 3.71±0.03meqkg-1 ; total acidity, 16.44±0.03 to 35.52±0.01 meqkg-1 ;pH value, 3.67±0.02 to 5.10±0.19; electrical conductivity, 0.08±0.01 to 0.48±0.02 mScm-1 ; total reducing sugar content, 74.30±0.03 to 82.30±0.04%; sucrose content, 3.58±0.02 to 4.71 ±0.02%; hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, 10.51±0.04to 14.31±0.02 mgkg-1 ; diastase activity, 23.20±0.02 to 26.46±0.02 G o and protein content, 0.74±0.01 to 0.85±0.01%. The quality parameters were subjected to a one way ANOVA at p ≤ 0.05. There were significant differences in the colour, specific gravity, viscosity, moisture content, ash content, free acidity, lactone acidity, total acidity, pH value and electrical conductivity of the honey samples while refractive index, sugar content, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, diastase activity and protein content showed no significant differences. A 2-tailed F-LSD test at 5% level of significance shows that the differences between the mean values are statistically significant for all the locations for temperature, viscosity, moisture content, free acidity, lactone acidity, total acidity and electrical conductivity of the honey samples while colour, specific gravity and ash content shows that the differences between themean values are statistically significant for most of the sample locations. The honey samples present a good level of quality because the physicochemical values were in the range of approved limits (conforming to codex standards) for all honey samples. It was indicated that honey from the area will be suitable for exportation when processed appropriately.

Analysis of Selected Antioxidant and Anti-nutrient Content and Palynological Evaluation of Honey Samples from Southern Guinea Savanna Vegetation of Nigeria

“…This finding is comparable to the results of Saxena et al [35], El Sohaimy et al [36], Nweze et al [2] and Bako et al [37]. The presence of considerable quantity of flavonoids in the honey samples is in line with previous reports that flavonoids are part one of the phyto Rubiaceae preventing the growth of microorganisms and his finding is comparable to the results of Saxena et al [35], El Sohaimy et al [36], Nweze et al [2] and Bako et al [37]. The presence of considerable quantity of flavonoids in the honey samples is in line with previous t one of the phyto-constituents found in honey.…”

Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Deforestation in the Central Taraba State: A Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing Analysis

“…The study area, which is a ward in Bali, a local government area of the state, has a total size of 15,104 km 2 (see Figures 1 and 2). The research area's undulating landscape is made up of flat, solitary, and mountain chains, with elevations ranging from 264 m to 934 m above sea level [22,23]. The majority of the locals work mostly in agriculture, fishing, lumbering, hunting, sculpting, and the harvesting of trees for use as firewood in towns.…”

Sidr Honeys Physical and Chemical Characterization, a Comprehensive Approach through LC-MS/MS, NMR, and GC-MS Analysis

“…One of the key markers of honey freshness is diastase activity. The storage environment and heat treatment of honey affect diastase activity [70,71].…”