Solid phase microextraction (SPME) applied to honey quality control

Abstract

The assessment of the botanical origin of unifloral honeys is an important application in food control. The current official methods mainly use pollen analysis. The aim of this paper is to present an SPME analytical approach to the study of honey volatiles. Honey samples (40) obtained from hive sites in different regions of Italy were analysed. The samples had six different botanical origins: citrus (five), chestnut (10), eucalyptus (eight), lime tree (11), thyme (two) and dandelion (four). Melissopalynological analysis was also performed. Identification of volatile compounds was carried out by SPME/GC/MS analysis, and quantitative evaluation was done by SPME/GC/FID analysis for compounds with wellresolved peaks. Using the SPME method, all samples with the same botanical origin gave remarkably similar GC profiles. Some volatile compounds were found only in specific floral source honey samples and thus could be interesting for use as markers.

Screening of volatile composition from Portuguese multifloral honeys using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry

“…The presence of hotrienol in the Eucryphia lucida honey [38]. We have also found, for instance aromatic aldehydes such as benzaldehyde and benzeneacetaldehyde, which have been reported as common components of various unifloral honey [39].…”

Volatile Profile, Pigment Content, and In Vitro Radical Scavenging Activity of Flower, Thyme, and Fir Honeys Produced in Hellas

“…Furan related compounds usually serve as indicators of heat treatment and storage conditions [11]. Similar compounds have been reported previously to contribute to the volatile profile of Italian [11] and Spanish thyme honeys [5,6]. Isophorone related volatiles (i.e.…”

“…This observation may be indicative of both: botanical and geographical origin aspects. Benzaldehyde and benzeneacetaldehyde have been reported previously to enhance the volatile fraction of Italian [11], Spanish [5,6], Hellenic [2,10], and Turkish thyme honeys [15].…”

“…Carvacrol may not be considered as an undisputed volatile marker of thyme honey since it has been previously identified only in traces in the volatile fraction of Spanish thyme honeys [6], or it was absent in the volatile fraction of Italian thyme honeys [11]. However, this volatile compound may be indicative of thyme honey production area.…”

“…), hydrocarbons (octane,1-nonene, nonane, 5-methyl-4-nonene, undecane), ketones (1-2-furanyl-ethanone), norisoprenoids (2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1,4-dione), terpenoids (alpha-pinene, 2-beta-pinene, dL-limonene, etc. ), and furan derivatives (2,5-diethyltetrahydro-furan, 3-phenyl-furan2,5-dimethyl-3-ethyl-4-acetyl-furan), have been reported ( ) peak area of analyte Volatiles / peak area of internal standard g kg previously to enhance the volatile profile of several honey types produced in different countries [2,5,6,10,[11][12][13][14][15].…”