Quality Assessment of Goldenrod, Milkweed and Multifloral Honeys Based on Botanical Origin, Antioxidant Capacity and Mineral Content

The goal of the study was to evaluate the pollen spectrum, antioxidant capacity and mineral content of four Hungarian honey types, using multivariate statistical analysis. The light colored honeys were represented by milkweed honey and a multifloral (MF) honey with dominant pollen frequency of linden (MF-Tilia); the darker ones were goldenrod honey and a multifloral honey with Lamiaceae pollen majority (MF-Lamiaceae). The pollen spectrum of the samples was established with melissopalynological analysis. The absorbance of the honeys positively correlated with the antioxidant capacity determined with three of the used methods (TRC, TEAC, DPPH), but not with ORAC. The latter method correlated negatively also with other antioxidant methods and with most of the mineral values. MF-Tilia had high ORAC value, K and Na content. The MF-Lamiaceae had the highest K, Mg, P, S, Cu and Zn content, the last five elements showing strict correlation with the TRC method. The darker goldenrod honey had higher SET values and total mineral content, than the milkweed honey. The above character-sets facilitate identification of each honey type and serve as indicators of variety. The antioxidant levels and mineral content of honeys allowed their clear separation by principal component analysis (PCA).

Landscapes of Smolensk Oblast as a Consequence of Ancient Anthropogenic Activity: Paleoecological Study of Radomsky Mokh Swamp

The results of a paleoecological study of a peat deposit in Radomsky Mokh area (Smolensk Oblast, Krasninsky District) made it possible to reconstruct the history of the region's landscapes over the last 4 thousand years and identify its 4 contrasting periods. The reservoir was a lake at first, after which the pollen spectrum is dominated by pollen from native tree species. After a series of fires on the boundary of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages (3173–2969 14C calendar years ago) (2σ, 99.7%)) a forested mesotrophic swamp formed at the site of the lake, and pollen from pioneer trees with an admixture of alder started to dominate the pollen spectrum. At the third stage, the swamp became mesotrophic, and the landscapes around it become open, which is evidenced by an increase in the proportion of grasses and anthropogenic indicators in the pollen spectrum. The same period is marked with the appearance of pollen of cultivated grasses (2992–2912 simulated years ago), which coincides with the distribution of the monuments of the Dnieper-Dvinian culture in the study area. At the last stage, the swamp became oligotrophic, and a stable curve of cultivated grasses appeared (mid-1st Millennium AD), indicating the spread of agriculture in the study area. The absence of known archaeological sites in an 8-kilometer radius around Radomsky Mokh most likely indicates an insufficient archaeological study level of the area, whereas the economic development of the vicinity of the tract started at the boundary of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages.

Research of Original Sorts of Honey

The topicality. Honey, a natural saturated sugar solution, which consists of fructose and glucose in the amount of 65-80% of the total amount of sugars, and also contains important minor components – enzymes (diastase and invertase), organic acids (glycolic acid, acetic acid, etc.) , vitamins, phytoncides, phenolic compounds and minerals. Monofloral honeys, obtained mainly from the nectar of one plant species, are characterized by a conditionally stable composition and unique properties, which gives grounds to class them as functional products. Purpose and methods. The purpose of the work is to use melisopalinological, organoleptic and physicochemical analyses to determine reliable criteria for the authenticity of Ukrainian original sorts of honey. Results. The botanical origin of the investigated honeys has been confirmed by the study of the pollen spectrum of various honey samples by identifying the dominant pollen grains. In addition, all studied samples had their own profile of scent, tastes and consistency, a unique complex of which correlated with honey sorts. The varietal characteristics of the samples under study also influenced the physicochemical indicators, some values of which were outside the permissible limits in accordance with the national regulatory documentation. Conclusions and discussion. For original sorts of honey with varying degrees of monoflority, there is a need for further study of the physicochemical composition in connection with their possible varietal characteristics. The scientific novelty of the work lies in a pilot study of the organoleptic characteristics and physicochemical parameters of the original of honey from Ukraine, in particular pumpkin, blueberry, and echinacea. Practical use of the obtained results is possible for further authentication of coriander, goldenrod, pumpkin, blueberry, thyme, phacelia and Echinacea honey as original sorts for further study of their properties and introduction into functional nutrition.

Sensorial, Melissopalynological and Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Honey from Babors Kabylia’s Region (Algeria)

This study aimed to characterize the honeys of Babors Kabylia through sensory, melissopalynological and physico-chemical parameters. Thirty samples of honey produced in this region were collected over a period of two years and analyzed. All the samples presented physico-chemical parameters in conformity with legislation on honey quality, with few exceptions, linked mainly to beekeeping management. The pollen spectrum revealed a great diversity with 96 pollen types. The main pollen types were spontaneous species as Fabaceae (Hedysarum, Trifolium, Genisteae plants), Asteraceae plants, Ericaceae (Erica arborea L.) or Myrtus and Pistacia. The sensory properties of samples showed a high tendency to crystallization, the colors were from white to brown, but most of them had gold color. Smell and odor corresponded mainly to vegetal and fruity families and in taste perceptions besides sweetness highlighted sourness and saltiness notes. Seventeen samples were polyfloral, one was from honeydew and twelve were monofloral from heather, genista plants, sulla, blackberry or Asteraceae. Heather and the honeydew samples showed the darkest color, the highest electrical conductivity and phenol and flavonoid content. A statistical analysis based on the most representative pollen types, sensory properties and some physico-chemical components allowed the differentiation of honey samples in terms of botanical origin.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE METHOD OF BOTANICAL IDENTIFICATION OF HONEY

The pollen spectrum of honey reflects the regional crops, forest plantations, all the diversity of the plant species near the apiary. That is why the use, adaptation, and improvement of various methods of pollen analysis and interpretation of its results are topical questions in the countries which produce original varieties of honey on the international market. Ukraine is a leader in manufacturing and exporting honey in Europe and worldwide. Usually, Ukrainian honey is exported not as a finished food product, but as a raw material. This is because the pollen spectrum of Ukrainian honeys is provided with no description characterising their botanical and geographical origin, which, in turn, is because there are no pollen analysis methods implemented in production laboratories. The purpose of this study was improving the pollen analysis method to identify the botanical origin of Ukrainian honeys. The research was conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Standardisation and Certification of Agricultural Products in the National University of Life and Environmental Science of Ukraine, and in the production laboratory of Ascania-Pack Company. The analysis of harmonised methods of melissopalynology and standardised pollen detection methods has allowed developing a botanical method of honey identification adapted to be introduced in Ukrainian laboratories. The method suggested is a complex of individual procedures, operations, and techniques. It has been detailed how to prepare solution to fix and stain pollen preparations obtained from honey. The method of preparing a suspension of pollen grains from honey has been improved: extra dissolution of crystals and a lower speed of the centrifuge reduce the time of making the preparation and improve its quality. The method of obtaining preparations of pollen grains from honey has been adapted to harmonised international melissopalynological methods. New methods have been developed to count pollen grains in prepared monofloral and polyfloral honey samples. It has been detailed how to identify step-by- step the botanical origin of honey by pollen grains using international databases. The method has been implemented in the production laboratories of leading enterprises in Ukraine and Belarus.