Geographical characterisation of multifloral honeys from the Marche region (Italy) according to their antioxidant activity and colour using a chemometric approach

Abstract

Multifloral honeys produced in the Marche region (Italy) were analysed leading to the antioxidant and colour characterisation of this type of regional honeys: the antioxidant activity was determined measuring total phenolic content (TPC), and using ABTS and DPPH assays. The elaboration of data with multivariate analyses enabled differentiation of the geographical origin of honey samples, namely as coming from the Mid/Coastal Hilly or from the High Hilly/Submountain belt of the Marche region. The cluster analysis applied to a selection of samples divided honeys belonging to the Mid/Coastal Hilly belt into three groups showing low, medium and high antioxidant activity and in part located in different areas of the region. Finally, using data of unifloral honeys from the Marche region previously determined, it was possible to have an indication of the prevalent nectar contained in most of the multifloral honey samples harvested in 2012 in the Marche region.

Chemical Properties, Rheological Behavior, and Melissopalynological Analysis of Selected Brazilian Honeys from Hovenia dulcis Flowering

“…In the case of monofloral honey (MH), the labeling can proceed if there is at least 45% of a dominant pollen grain from the same plant. In this sense, attention has been given to the mislabeling of MH, while growing the interest in authenticating them through pollen analysis and chemical approaches [11,12].…”

“…The characterization of MH is usually performed by melissopalynology, which allows the authentication of the dominant pollen [9,13,14]. However, other improved techniques are reported, as the case of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry [8], light and scanning electron microscopy [10], liquid chromatography [13], in addition to chemometric tools [12,15] and rheology [7,16]. The rheological properties have been extensively reported as significant characteristics that affect the texture, sensory rating as well as other quality parameters of foods, including shelf stability during storage [7,17,18].…”

Morphological, Physicochemical and FTIR Spectroscopic Properties of Bee Pollen Loads from Different Botanical Origin

“…In the last years, there has been considerable research on different types of honeybee products, whose composition is significantly influenced by the presence of different types of pollen [4,5] and geographical origin [6]. However, limited studies have been carried out on the physicochemical properties of the Italian bee pollen or, even more importantly, on bee pollen of different botanical origins [3,7,8].…”

Bioactive constituents, in vitro radical scavenging and antibacterial activities of selected Apis mellifera honey from Kenya

“…Though their concentration in honey is minor, the latter compounds have been shown to contribute significantly to honey's biofunctional properties (Cornara et al, 2017). Honey composition varies depending on its floral and geographical origin (Gambacorta et al, 2014;Castiglioni et al, 2018).…”