Investigating the impact of botanical origin and harvesting period on carbon stable isotope ratio values (¹³C/¹²C) and different parameter analysis of Greek unifloral honeys: A chemometric approach for correct botanical discrimination

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of botanical origin and harvesting period on carbon stable isotope ratio (13C/12C), colour intensity (CI), radical scavenging activity (%RSA), P and Sn content of Greek unifloral honeys. Thus, twenty-four honey samples were collected during harvesting periods 2011–2012 and 2012–2013, from four different regions in Greece. 13C/12C ratios and minerals were determined using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and inductively coupled plasma optical–emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), respectively. CI and %RSA were measured using spectrophotometric assays. Results showed that only 13C/12C values and %RSA were affected by both botanical origin and harvesting period (P < 0.05). Applying then chemometric analyses to the collected data set, honeys were correctly classified according to honey type (correct classification rate 87.5% and 79.2% using the original and cross-validation method, respectively). The use of different origin parameters has the potential to aid in honey authentication

Impact of physicochemical parameters, pollen grains, and phenolic compounds on the correct geographical differentiation of fir honeys produced in Greece as assessed by multivariate analyses

“…Present results are in general agreement with those reported by other researchers, who showed that the use of specific volatiles, physicochemical parameters, minerals, isotopic data, selected flavonoids, and phenolic acids in combination with multivariate techniques could be used for the determination of both: botanical and geographical origin of honeys in lieu of melissopalynological analysis, [13,15,18,19] providing satisfactory differentiation rates higher than 75%. What is clearly shown in the present study is that the combined use of physicochemical parameter values and phenolic compound content increased the overall differentiation rate by 32.6% as compared with that of pollen grains.…”

“…[9] For this reason, in recent studies it has been suggested that chemical approaches may be more accurate and easily undertaken in the characterization of the geographical/and or botanical origins of honey. Methods used for this purpose include volatile compounds, [4,10] volatile compounds and physicochemical parameters, [11][12][13] volatile compounds and phenolic compounds, [14][15][16][17] mineral content and isotopic data, [18,19] free amino acids, mineral content and physicochemical parameters- [20,21] in combination with chemometrics.…”

Characterization of aroma‐active compounds and stable carbon isotope ratios in Turkish pine honeys from two different regions

“…In addition to this, the isotopic ratio of the two honeys differed from each other in the case of their carbon isotope ratios. According to an earlier study that examined the varietal and seasonal effects on carbon isotope ratios of some honeys in Greece, pine honey samples possessed both the highest color intensity and radical scavenging property while having the highest δ value (Karabagias et al, 2016). Similarly, in this study, pine honeys from the Bolu region were found to have a darker color and also a higher δ value.…”

Geographical Origin Identification of Tequila Based on Multielement and Stable Isotopes

“…It is widely used to trace food geographical origin, for example, wine [9], beef [10], and tea [11,12]. Besides, it can be applied for authentication, such as the brewing of soy sauce [13] and honey [14][15][16]. e content of mineral elements in tequila is largely determined by the environmental conditions of its growth, such as soil, water, and climate.…”