scholarly journals A New Approach for Determination of the Botanical Origin of Monofloral Bee Honey, Combining Mineral Content, Physicochemical Parameters, and Self-Organizing Maps

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (23) ◽  
pp. 7219
Author(s):  
Tsvetomil Voyslavov ◽  
Elisaveta Mladenova ◽  
Ralitsa Balkanska

A new approach for the botanical origin determination of monofloral bee honey is developed. The methodology combines mineral content and physicochemical parameters determination with intelligent statistics such as self-organizing maps (SOMs). A total of 62 monofloral bee honey samples were analysed, including 31 linden, 14 rapeseed, 13 sunflower, and 4 acacia. All of them were harvested in 2018 and 2019 from trusted beekeepers, after confirming their botanical origin, using melissopalynological analysis. Nine physicochemical parameters were determined, including colour, water content, pH, electrical conductivity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, diastase activity, specific optical rotation, invertase activity, and proline. The content of thirty chemical elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Sr, Te, V, and Zn) was measured using ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and FAAS as instrumental techniques. The visualisation of the SOMs shows an excellent separation of honey samples in five well-defined clusters—linden, rapeseed, acacia, sunflower, and polyfloral honey—using the following set of 16 descriptors: diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural content, invertase activity, pH, specific optical rotation, water content, Al, B, Cr, Cs, K, Na, Ni, Rb, V, and Zn.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1421-1430
Author(s):  
Zidane Djelloul ◽  
Sid-Ahmed Benaoula ◽  
Abdeldjalil Daioui ◽  
Mohammed Z.E. El Mahi ◽  
Boumedien Meddah ◽  
...  

Background: Consumers have become aware that the industrial methods of honey production have greatly affected the environment and product quality. Today, they want a reorientation of these production modes to obtain healthy and natural organic products. Objective: This study is conducted to evaluate, for the first time in Algeria, the physicochemical composition of organic honey’s harvest in the organic- North West Algerian area. Methods: Twenty-four samples of organic honey were harvested according to the organic beekeeping rules, by selected volunteer beekeepers in organic regions and hives, and then, they were extracted by the traditional method. Physicochemical parameters, such as pH, free acidity, density, electrical conductivity, diastase activity, carbohydrates, hydroxyl methyl furfural (HMF), water content, ash, color intensity and specific optical rotation were evaluated. Results: Mean values obtained for physicochemical parameters were: pH as 3-4.8, electrical conductivity as 0.123-1.180 mS/cm, free acid as 8-30 mEq/kg, diastase activity as 8.02-40.54 (Shade units), carbohydrates as 60.21-77.07%, sucrose as 1.04-8.97%, HMF quality as 4.67-27.63 mg/kg, water content as 14.2-19.0%, ash as 0.09-0.86%, color intensity ABS450 as 288-1467 mAU, color intensity (Pfund scale) as 0.30-137.34 mm and specific optical rotation at (-16.1)-(-3.8). The analysis indicated that organic honey samples grown in selected sites of our local area are of good quality. All of the obtained values were within the limits imposed by the present legislation (Codex Alimentarius). Conclusion: Analyzed honey samples are characterized as biological products of excellent quality with interesting nutritional properties.


2003 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 805-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Zlatkovic ◽  
Dragica Jakovljevic ◽  
Djordje Zekovic ◽  
Miroslav Vrvic

The structure of a polysaccharide consisting of D-glucose isolated from the cell-wall of active dry baker?s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was investigated by using methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and enzymic hydrolysis, as a new approach in determination of structures. The main structural feature of the polysaccharide deduced on the basis of the obtained results is a linear chain of (1?3)-linked ?-D-glucopyranoses, a part of which is substituted through the positions O-6. The side units or groups are either a single D-glucopyranose or (1?3)-?-oligoglucosides, linked to the main chaing through (1?6)-glucosidic linkages. The low optical rotation as well as the 13C-NMR and FTIR spectra suggest that the glycosidic linkages are in the ?-D-configuration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amar Otmani ◽  
Nadia Amessis-Ouchemoukh ◽  
Zina Mouhoubi-Tafinine ◽  
Kenza Tighlit ◽  
Ibtissam Redouan ◽  
...  

Background: Honey is a sweet and flavorful natural product which comes from a lot of nectar of medicinal plants. Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the botanical origin, physicochemical parameters and the antioxidant contents and antibacterial activities of some Algerian honeys. Method: The physico-chemical parameters of the honeys analyzed were measured using the methods established by the European Honey Commission. The antioxidant contents were determined using colorimetric assays, and the antioxidant activities were estimated using reducing power, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Antibacterial activities were measured using sensitivity testing and minimal inhibitory concentration. Results: The majority of the samples analyzed were monofloral honeys (Fabaceae) and other medicinal plant pollens were shown (Asteraceae, Tiliaceae, Myrtaceae and Apiaceae). The physicochemical parameters of the honeys were in accordance with the legislation, and the analyses of proline and HMF confirmed their authenticity. The content of total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids ranged from 26 to 159 mg GAE/100 g and 10 to 43 mg EC/100 g, respectively. The analyzed honeys showed variable antioxidant activities that differed from one honey to another, and antibacterial activity tests showed that S. aureus and K. pneumoniae were the most sensitive strains with inhibition zones of 24 to 28 mm and 8 to 35 mm in diameter, respectively. Very high correlations were observed between color, antioxidants and antioxidant activities. Conclusion: This study confirmed the powerful properties of honey to trap free radicals and to inhibit bacterial growth that could be used as a therapeutic agent.


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinko Hristov Dinkov

Abstract More than 3600 varieties of higher plants are found in Bulgaria, which is a good predisposition for the production of different types of bee honey. In the country 11 natural and 3 national parks were registered, where many different kinds of plants can be found, some of them unique in the world. Up till now, more than 11 types of bee honey have been harvested and investigated. The aim of this work was, based on the data from available literature to provide a summary of the scientific information related to the main types of bee honey in Bulgaria from 2000 to the present. In the study, we present quality parameters from organically produced and commercially processed bee honeys: pollen analysis, proline content, invertase activity, specific optical rotation, electrical conductivity, antioxidant and antibacterial activities.


2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos M. Tzollas ◽  
George A. Zachariadis ◽  
Aristidis N. Anthemidis ◽  
John A. Stratis

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 401-406
Author(s):  
Makarewicz Małgorzata ◽  
Kowalski Stanisław ◽  
Lukasiewicz Marcin ◽  
Małysa-Paśko Magdalena

Six commercial natural honeys available on the Polish market were characterised with respect to their geographical and floral origins, physicochemical parameters and microbial properties. The study focused on a determination of the activity of the main enzymes, antioxidant capacity and identification of antimicrobial effects. Fructose was the predominant sugar in all tested honeys. The largest amount of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was found in eucalyptus honey. It was found that thyme honey was characterised by the highest values of diastase number, invertase activity, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content. A very week correlation between the antioxidant properties of tested honeys and their antimicrobial action against tested bacteria was observed. M. luteus and P. putida were resistant to most honey samples. All tested honeys showed antibacterial activity against E. coli and P. myxofaciens. B. subtilis was resistant only to eucalyptus honey.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-289
Author(s):  
Anmari Meerkotter

The Constitutional Court (CC) judgment of Lee v Minister of Correction Services 2013 2SA 144 (CC) is a recent contribution to transformative constitutional jurisprudence in the field of the law of delict. This matter turned on the issue of factual causation in the context of wrongful and negligent systemic omissions by the state. In this case note, I explore the law relating to this element of delictual liability with specific regard to the traditional test for factual causation – the conditio sine qua non (‘but-for’) test. In particular, I note the problems occasioned by formalistic adherence to this test in the context of systemic state omissions as evidenced by the SCA judgment in the same matter. I also consider the manner in which English courts have addressed this problem. Thereafter, I analyse the CC’s broader approach to the determination of factual causation as one based on common sense and justice. I argue that this approach endorses a break from a formalistic application of the test and constitutes a step towards an approach which resonates with the foundational constitutional values of freedom, dignity and equality. Furthermore, it presents an appropriate solution to the problems associated with factual causation where systemic omissions are concerned. I then consider the transformative impact of the Lee judgment. In particular, I argue that the broader enquiry favoured by the CC facilitates the realisation of constitutionally guaranteed state accountability, and amounts to an extension of the existing norm of accountability jurisprudence. Hence, I contend that the judgment presents a further effort by the Constitutional Court to effect wholesale the constitutionalisation of the law of delict, as well as a vindicatory tool to be used by litigants who have been adversely affected by systemic state omissions.


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