Differentiation of Honeydew Honeys from Blossom Honeys and According to Their Botanical Origin by Electrical Conductivity and Phenolic and Sugar Spectra

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Honeydew honey, due to its higher antibacterial and antioxidant activity in comparison to blossom honeys, is in high demand and of interest to consumers. Although a differentiation of blossom honeys from honeydew honeys by way of electrical conductivity is given in many cases, criteria for a differentiation of individual honeydew honeys, such as spruce, fir, and pine, however did not exist. For this reason, 93 authentic honeydew honeys and 63 non-honeydew honeys [35 blossom and 28 nectar-honeydew (mixed)] from 13 different botanical origins were collected within the framework of the current study, and their electrical conductivity and phenolic and sugar profiles were investigated. Results showed that the higher electrical conductivity (≥0.80 mS/cm), the higher protocatechuic acid content (≥3.5 mg/kg), and the higher percentage of the oligosaccharide content (≥120 mg/g) were suitable parameters for the differentiation of authentic coniferous honeydew honeys from non-honeydew honeys; a differentiation. A differentiation of the spruce, fir, and pine honeydew honeys however could not be reached. Through the analysis of 32 carbohydrates (2 mono-, 7 di-, 10 tri-, and 13 higher oligosaccharides) in only one run by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with an evaporative light scattering detector, marker substances can now be utilized for the classification of individual honeydew honeys. Sugar marker compounds such as α,α-trehalose, melezitose, theanderose, nystose, or maltotetraose in honeydew honeys in combination with chemometrics highlighted the good capability of sugar profiles to discriminate the honeydew honeys both from the non-honeydew honeys and from each other. All in all, a 96.75% correct classification of all studied 156 honey samples was achieved by sugar marker compounds.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1329-1347
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of agricultural and food chemistry
Volume69
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 3 Feb 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33476168

Keywords

Keywords

  • chemometrics, food authenticity, HMF, HPLC-ELSD, marker compounds, oligosaccharides, phenolic components, protocatechuic acid, sugar profiling, UHPLC-PDA-ESI/MS