Estimation of physicochemical characteristics of honey from various botanical sources

Abstract

Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by honey bees, from the nectars of plant flowers and honey dew. Thus, the present study was done to assess to study the regional variations in the physicochemical parameters and bioactive compounds content of Mustard (Brassica sp.), Lychee (Litchi chenensis) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) honeys from Bikapur, Rudauli, Sohawal and Sadar tehsils of the Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Total 36 samples (Mustard, Lychee and Eucalyptus origin, 3 samples each from each tehsil) were studied.  Among all studied samples the moisture content was ranged between 15.9 to 20.7 %; the highest value being observed in litchi honey.  The pH and free acidity was ranged between 3.3 to 5.2 and 12.50 to 32.50 meq/kg respectively; highest pH values were recorded in Eucalyptus honey, whereas highest free acidity was reported higher in Brassica honey. The total sugar, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar was ranged between 71.97 to 81.7, 59.5 to 76.84 and 4.15 to 14.30 %; the total sugar, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar being highest in Eucalyptus, Litchi and Brassica honey respectively. Electrical conductivity of honey samples existed between the 0.12 to 0.85 µs/cm. The mean value of electric conductivity of Eucalyptus honey was highest in Sadar tehsil (0.29±0.05 µs/cm), followed by Sohawal tehsil (0.25±0.04 µs/cm), Rudauli tehsil (0.24±0.02 µs/cm) and least in Bikapur tehsil ((0.16±0.03 µs/cm). The HMF content of honey samples was differed from 4.0 to 10.0. The overall mean value of Pfund scale of Eucalyptus, Brassica and litchi honeys was 46.25±1.10, 42.83±0.99 and 67.83±1.84 mm, respectively. Thus, the variation in physicochemical parameters of honey were related its botanical floral source and geographical area from where its derived.