Honey: Chemical composition, stability and authenticity

Make a beeline for honey authentication: Na, K, Rb, Mg, Ca-based verification method

This study presented a straightforward method for detecting the adulteration of natural bee honey with consumable artificial honey and bee syrups. The approach, based on measuring alkali and alkaline earth metal content, revealed that adulterated honey samples had lower K, Rb, Mg, and Ca levels and elevated Na content. A novel and cost-effective method, solution cathode glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (SCGD OES), was developed for elemental analysis. The method's trueness was confirmed through ICP OES and ICP MS measurements. SCGD OES featured excellent measurement precision (<1 %) with low limits of detection, i.e., 0.005, 0.007, 0.015, 0.2, and 20 μg L-1 for Na, K, Rb, Mg, and Ca, respectively. It surpassed commercial techniques with lower costs, straightforward sample preparation (no acid digestion needed), and a simplified setup. The average detection threshold for adulteration was 21 %, 13 %, and 12 % for rapeseed, goldenrod, and honeydew honey, respectively.

A machine learning approach fusing multisource spectral data for prediction of floral origins and taste components of Apis cerana honey

This study explores the use of near-infrared (NIR), mid-infrared (MIR), and Raman spectral fusion for the rapid prediction of floral origins and main taste components in Apis cerana (A. cerana) honey. Feature-level fusion with the partial least squares regression - random forest (PLSR-RF) model achieved 100 % classification accuracy in identifying floral origins. Additionally, the model demonstrated strong predictive capability for sugars, amino acids, and organic acids, with R2 values ranging from 0.88 to 0.96, and performed exceptionally in predicting total organic acids and amino acids (R2 of 0.94 and 0.93, respectively). The PLSR-RF model showed effective clustering for proline, glucose, and fructose, achieving a 23.5 % improvement in predictive accuracy compared to data-level fusion. These findings confirm the efficacy of the PLSR-RF model for quantitative analysis of A. cerana honey.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities of saffron and eryngium honey extracts

Saffron and Eryngium honeys are unique types of monofloral honeys collected from eastern and center of Iran. In present study, first, we investigated melissopalynological and physicochemical parameters in honey samples. Then we extracted the phenolic compounds and evaluated in vitro antioxidant by FRAP assay and anti-inflammatory activities by lipopolysaccharide induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Phenolic extracts reduced nitric oxide and the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNFSF9 in the inflamed cells, and by reducing the NF-kB and increasing Nrf2 gene expression, showed an anti-inflammatory effect, but in general, Eryngium honey showed higher anti-inflammatory properties. Also, by studying the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and HO-1 genes, we showed that there is a relationship between inflammation and apoptosis in macrophage cells that the phenolic compounds showed their anti-apoptotic properties. Eryngium honey had a better performance in anti-apoptotic properties. Moreover, promising results indicate that Iranian honeys could be an important source of phenolic compounds presenting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, which can have health-promoting properties if included in the diet and medicine.

Apitherapy for drug-induced kidney disease: a narrative review on its mechanisms

OBJECTIVES

The use of medications for the treatment of various diseases often results in kidney damage. Apitherapy is a natural therapeutic tool with potential utility for this purpose. This narrative review analyzes and summarizes the scientific evidence on the use of apitherapy in drug-induced kidney disease.

CONTENT

This review summarizes and analyzes recent advances in drug-induced kidney disease and explores, based on the available scientific evidence, how apitherapy can modify these mechanisms and be utilized for prevention and treatment.

SUMMARY

Apitherapy (the complementary and integrative use of beehive products) is a potentially useful therapeutic system for the treatment of various diseases. This review examines the preclinical and clinical evidence available regarding its potential use in drug-induced kidney disease.

OUTLOOK

Apitherapy has effects on various pathophysiological mechanisms of drug-induced kidney disease, including oxidative stress, inflammation, decreased renal blood flow, glomerular damage, increased membrane permeability, activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. Further studies in humans are needed to evaluate its efficacy in the clinical setting, but the available evidence is promising.

Brazilian honey: Metabolomic analysis and characterization by 1D- and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and chemometrics

Honey is a complex matrix that contains a wide range of compounds. This rich composition is influenced by diverse environmental factors, including geographic and botanical origin. Honey has been among the most commonly tampered foods worldwide, with improvements in techniques to do it. Accordingly, there is a recurring need for new techniques and methods to assess the honey's metabolic profiles to distinguish adulterated from non-tampered samples. In this sense, this study aimed to determine the chemical profiles of honey samples from the eleven agroecological zones of the Santa Catarina State (southern Brazil), collected in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 harvest seasons through 1D- and 2D-NMR. As a result, a series of metabolites was identified and their concentrations measured in samples. Further, the metabolomic dataset was used for building descriptive models through chemometric techniques, in order to discriminate honey samples according to their geographic and botanical origins and harvest season effect. Twenty-one metabolites were identified, with predominance of glucose and fructose in all samples. Two other carbohydrates (sucrose and maltose) were identified in lower concentrations, in addition to amino acids, organic acids, ketone, alcohol, ester, and alkaloids. No discrepant 1H NMR resonances that could indicate fraud were detected in the spectra. By PCA, it was possible to find clusters with similar geographic origins, i.e., agroecological zones, and botanical origins. In this regard, patterns of composition were detected for honey samples of Eucalyptus spp. and Hovenia dulcis species, which presented acetoin and kynurenate, respectively, in higher concentrations. Taking together, the results allowed demonstrating that NMR spectroscopy coupled to chemometrics is an effective experimental approach to characterize Brazilian honey regarding their geographic origin and season of collection, despite the huge floral diversity available in that country for bee forage.

Distinguishing the botanical origins of rare honey through untargeted metabolomics and machine learning interpreting flavonoid profiles

Distinguishing the botanic origins of monofloral honey is the foremost concern in ensuring its authentication. In this work, an innovative, green, and comprehensive approach was developed to distinguish the botanic origins of four types of rare honey, and the strategy involved in the following aspects: Based on theoretical design, suitable natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) was screened to extract flavonoids from honey samples; after NADES extracts were directly analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry, the discrimination models of monofloral honey were established by untargeted metabolomics combined with machine learning. Based on the comparison of various models, the Random Forest algorithm had higher prediction accuracy for four types of monofloral honey, and characteristic compounds for each rare monofloral honey were screened based on SHapley Additive exPlanations values. This work provides a new perspective on the use of AI technology and green chemistry to control the quality of honey.

Robust DEEP heterogeneous ensemble and META-learning for honey authentication

Food fraud raises significant concerns to consumer health and economic integrity, with the adulteration of honey by sugary syrups representing one of the most prevalent forms of economically motivated adulteration. This study presents a novel framework that combines data from multiple analytical techniques with specialized deep learning models (convolutional neural networks), integrated via meta-learning, in order to differentiate between pure honey and samples adulterated with sugar cane molasses, glucose syrup, or caramel-flavored ice cream topping. Unlike traditional chemometric methods, this approach expands the input feature space, leading to enhanced predictive performance. The resulting deep heterogeneous ensemble learner exhibited considerable generalization capability, achieving an average classification accuracy of 98.53 % and a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.9710. Furthermore, the ensemble demonstrated exceptional robustness, maintaining an accuracy of 73 %, even when 90 % of the input data were corrupted, underscoring its unparalleled capacity to generalize under both subtle and extreme data variability. This adaptable and scalable solution underscores the transformative potential of ensemble-meta-learning strategy for addressing complex challenges in analytical chemistry. The model, its constituents and other additional resources were made available in an open repository.

Assessing the distribution and human health risks of cationic surface-active agents in honey from China

Cationic surface-active agents (CSAAs) can persist in ambient water, be ingested by bees, and contaminate honey. Residues of CSAAs in honey remains unknown. This study measured the residual levels of five CSAAs in 271 honey samples from China using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Residual benzalkonium chloride-C12 (BAC-C12), BAC-C14, BAC-C16, chlorhexidine (CHG), and 4-chloraniline levels were 0.0098-2.1468, 0.0061-1.7492, 0.0012-1.6305, 0.1576-0.8401, and 0.0019-0.0234 μg kg-1, respectively. CHG and all BAC were detected in 100 % of Z. jujuba, V. negundo var. heterophylla, wildflower, L. chinensis, and D. longan Lour honey; T. tuan honey had the lowest detection rate of any CSAAs. BAC-C16 had the highest residual level among all BAC tested in Central, North China. CHG levels were detected in 91.38 % of samples in North China and 100 % in East China. BAC-C12 was significantly higher in A. cerana versus A. mellifera honey (P < 0.001). Hazard quotient and Hazard index values indicate that CSAAs residuals in honey do not pose a health risk. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between BACs resides in honey and surrounding environment. The findings suggest that continuous monitoring of CSAAs in honey is imperative to ensure its safety for human consumption, while also serving as an effective matrix to assess the environmental pollution of a given region.

A Comprehensive Review of Honey-Containing Hydrogel for Wound Healing Applications

Honey has long been recognized for its medicinal properties, particularly in wound healing. Recent advancements in material science have led to the development of honey-containing hydrogels, combining the natural healing properties of honey with the versatile characteristics of hydrogel matrices. These hydrogels offer numerous advantages, including high moisture retention, biocompatibility, and the controlled release of bioactive compounds, making them highly effective for wound healing applications. Hydrogels hold significant potential in advancing medical applications, particularly for cutaneous injuries. The diverse properties of honey, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-eschar effects, have shown promise in accelerating tissue regeneration. According to studies, they are effective in maintaining a good swelling ratio index, Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR), contact angle, tensile and elongation at break, in vitro biodegradation rate, viscosity and porosity analysis, lowering bacterial infections, and encouraging rapid tissue regeneration with notable FTIR peaks and SEM average pore sizes. However, limitations such as low bioavailability and inefficiencies in direct application reduce their therapeutic effectiveness at the wound site. Integrating honey into hydrogels can help preserve its wound healing mechanisms while enhancing its ability to facilitate skin tissue recovery. This review explores the underlying mechanisms of honey in wound healing management and presents an extensive analysis of honey-containing hydrogels reported in the literature over the past eight years. It emphasizes the physicochemical and mechanical effectiveness and advancements of honey-incorporated hydrogels in promoting skin wound healing and tissue regeneration, supported by evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies. While honey-based therapies for wound healing have demonstrated promising outcomes in numerous in vitro and animal studies, clinical studies remain limited. Despite that, honey's incorporation into hydrogel systems, however, offers a potent fusion of contemporary material technology and natural healing qualities, marking a substantial breakthrough in wound treatment.

Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park

The main objective of this study was to provide an overview of the potential health-promoting properties of honeys collected at specific apiary locations from the protected area of Montesinho Natural Park (MNP), by analyzing their amino acid and polyphenolic profiles, and their biological properties, and comparing them with the renowned Manuka honey. The results revealed differences in total phenolic content among the samples examined and between sampling campaigns, with values ranging from 55.6 to 225 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 g of honey, compared to 57.2 mg GAE/100 g for Manuka honey. Gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and catechin were the key phenolics of MNP honey samples. MNP honey exhibited high levels of essential amino acids (phenylalanine, lysine, and valine), strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, moderate enzyme inhibition, and high proline content in some locations. These results highlight the exceptional nutritional and therapeutic potential of MNP honey.

Characterization of Honey Microbiome Using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Physicochemical Study

Honey, a super-saturated solution produced by Apis mellifera, is well-known for its historical medicinal uses, as well as culinary applications. Comprising sugars, phenols, enzymes, and more, its complex composition contributes to its medicinal properties. The microbiome, dominated by spore-forming bacteria and yeasts, is also a crucial factor in the health benefit properties of honey. The identification of the microbiome of honeys contributes to a better understanding of their microbial landscape and health-benefit properties and is also relevant to the environmental aspect. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is emerging as a key tool for microbial identification, but challenges remain in ensuring accuracy under different conditions. This study focuses on developing optimal conditions for microbial isolation and culture, aiming to balance diversity and avoid negative effects on identification. It further has the objective of evaluating the influence of geographic and botanical factors on the composition and diversity of the honey microbiome.

Physicochemical Characteristics, Antioxidant Properties, and Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Australian Stingless Bee Honey Using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography

This study investigates the physiochemical properties, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of Australian stingless bee honey blends from two bee species, Tetragonula carbonaria and Tetragonula hockingsi, harvested in Burpengary East, Queensland at different times of the year. The moisture content of the honey samples ranged from 26.5% to 30.0%, total soluble solids from 70.0 to 73.5° Brix, and pH from 3.57 to 4.19. The main sugars identified were trehalulose (13.9 to 30.3 g/100 g), fructose (12.9 to 32.3 g/100 g), and glucose (4.80 to 23.7 g/100 g). The total phenolic content (TPC), measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, ranged from 26.1 to 58.6 mg of gallic acid equivalents/100 g. The antioxidant activity was investigated with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, with values ranging from 1.39 to 6.08 mmol of Trolox equivalents/kg. Antioxidant constituents were determined using a High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)-DPPH assay. The HPTLC-DPPH analysis revealed that honey samples collected in May 2022 contained the highest number of antioxidant compounds. Some constituents were identified using an HPTLC-derived database and also quantified utilising HPTLC analysis. Lumichrome was present in all honey samples, while luteolin and kaempferide were detected only in some. Kaempferol or isorhamnetin was also found to be present, although a definitive distinction between these two chemically closely related compounds could not be made by HPTLC analysis. The results showed that honey produced by Tetragonula hockingsi and Tetragonula carbonaria shares similar properties and composition when harvested at the same time, with only minor differences in moisture, fructose, and glucose content.

Honey as a Natural Antimicrobial

Honey, a natural product with a rich history of medicinal use, has gained increasing recognition for its potent antimicrobial properties, particularly against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This review focuses on the antimicrobial mechanisms of honey, including its efficacy against resistant bacteria, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial action of honey is multifactorial, involving hydrogen peroxide production, phenolic compounds, high sugar concentrations, and the presence of bee defensin-1. The composition of honey varies based on its floral source, which can influence its antimicrobial strength. Certain types, such as Manuka honey, are particularly effective in clinical applications due to their higher levels of bioactive compounds. Honey has also been shown to disrupt bacterial biofilms, a major factor in antibiotic resistance, enhancing its therapeutic potential in treating chronic wounds and infections, especially in patients with compromised immune systems. Moreover, honey's ability to improve wound healing, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue regeneration highlights its broad therapeutic profile. As antibiotic resistance continues to challenge modern healthcare, honey offers a promising complementary treatment in antimicrobial therapy. Research into its specific bioactive components and potential synergistic effects with other natural agents, like ginger and propolis, could expand its applications. Standardizing honey products for medical use and establishing clinical guidelines are essential for optimizing its therapeutic benefits. As scientific understanding of honey's antimicrobial mechanisms deepens, its integration into healthcare systems as an adjunct therapy is expected to increase, offering a natural and effective alternative in the fight against infectious diseases.

Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Alterations of Honeybee Brood Bio-Peptides Interacting with Honey Under Moist-Dried Thermal Aging

Edible insect honeybee brood and natural honey are rich in proteins and saccharides, with inherent bioactive properties such as antioxidant activity. To enhance their antioxidative potential under simple thermal conditions, this research employed spontaneous aging via a moist-dried heating process, primarily driven by the Maillard reaction. Honeybee brood bio-peptides (HBb-BPs), produced through Rhizopus oligosporus fermentation, were mixed with honey in varying ratios of 70:30, 50:50, and 30:70 (%w/w). The mixtures underwent interaction under controlled conditions (60 °C for 20 days at ~75% relative humidity). A comparative analysis was performed on the mixtures before and after the thermal interaction, focusing on chemical characterization and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays). Results revealed that the post-process mixtures exhibited significantly enhanced antioxidant activity, with higher honey concentrations correlating to greater antioxidative effects. Furthermore, allulose and mannose were detected after processing, while levels of fructose, glucose, and free amino acids decreased. These changes likely indicate the formation of complex compounds, molecular rearrangements, and the production of phenolic compounds that contributed to the increased antioxidative capacity. This study highlights the pivotal role of the Maillard reaction in augmenting antioxidant activity, elucidates changes in sugar-amino acid interactions, and validates the effectiveness of the moist-dried heating process. These findings provide valuable insights for potential future applications of this simple and scalable method.

Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with multilayer perceptron deep learning to identify the authenticity of monofloral honey-Rape honey

Honey authenticity is critical to honey quality. The development of a quick, easy, and non-destructive technique for determining the authenticity of honey encourages an improvement in honey quality. Here, the authenticity of monofloral honey-rape honey was determined using fluorescence spectroscopy combined with multilayer perceptron (MLP) deep learning, without the need for any prior feature extraction or pre-processing. A total of 91 raw fluorescence intensity data of the real and adulterated honey samples at a fixed excitation wavelength of 280 nm were first matrixed, and all data were then categorized into a training set, a validation set, and a test set with numbers of 64, 16, and 11, respectively. The connection with dropout was selected to build and link the MLP internal network. The activation function, learning rate, optimizer, and number of epochs were among the hyperparameters of the MLP neural network that were tuned. A good MLP deep learning network model for determining the authenticity of monofloral honey, rape honey, was developed after constant validation and debugging. According to the accuracy curve of the MLP model, the accuracy of the training set increased with the number of epochs and eventually converged to 100 %, while the accuracy of the validation set could be well stabilized at about 100 % after 5000 epochs. Finally, the accuracy of the MLP model on the test set was close to 100 %. According to our findings, the MLP neural network and fluorescence intensity have great potential applications in identifying the authenticity of honey.

Investigating the Impact of Nosema Infection in Beehives on Honey Quality Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometrics

This study investigates the impact of Nosema infection in beehives on the physico-chemical and biochemical properties and spectral characteristics of honey as indicators of honey quality. Comprehensive analyses were performed on honey samples from hives with varying levels of Nosema infection, examining water content, free acidity, optical rotation, electrical conductivity, sugar composition, catalase activity, and pollen content. Honey from highly infected hives showed higher water content (up to 17.3%), lower optical rotation, reduced electrical conductivity, decreased glucose levels, and increased sucrose levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified distinct clustering of samples based on infection levels, with changes in the sugar profile, particularly higher phenolic compounds, correlating with increased infection levels. Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with PARAFAC modeling identified proteins and phenolic compounds as key discriminators of honey from infected hives. Correlation and PLS modeling further demonstrated strong relationships between spectral features and honey properties, including catalase activity and pollen content. This research presents a novel approach to evaluating the impact of Nosema infection on honey quality by integrating physico-chemical and biochemical analyses and sugar composition profiling with advanced spectroscopic techniques. These insights are invaluable for improving bee health monitoring practices and advancing sustainability in the beekeeping and honey production industries.

Antimicrobial Properties of Hive Products and Their Potential Applications in Human and Veterinary Medicine

Hive products, encompassing honey, propolis, bee venom, royal jelly, and pollen, are recognized for their antimicrobial and therapeutic properties. This review examines their chemical composition, explores their mechanisms of action, and discusses their potential applications in both human and veterinary medicine, particularly in addressing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance. This study utilized a comprehensive literature search strategy, gathering data from Google Scholar, MEDLINE PubMed, SciELO, and SCOPUS databases. Relevant search terms were employed to ensure a thorough retrieval of the pertinent literature. Honey, rich in bioactive compounds such as hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal, effectively disrupts biofilms and combats multi-drug-resistant pathogens, showing promise in treating a range of infections. Propolis, with its flavonoids and phenolic acids, demonstrates synergistic effects when used in conjunction with antibiotics. Bee venom, particularly its component melittin, exhibits antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties, although further research is needed to address toxicity concerns. Pollen and royal jelly demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, which is particularly relevant to animal health. Existing pre-clinical and clinical data support the therapeutic potential of these hive products. Hive products represent a vast and largely untapped natural resource for combating antimicrobial resistance and developing sustainable therapies, particularly in the field of veterinary medicine. However, challenges remain due to the inherent variability in their composition and the lack of standardized protocols for their preparation and application. Further research is essential to fully elucidate their mechanisms of action, optimize formulations for enhanced efficacy, and establish standardized protocols to ensure their safe and effective clinical use.

Physicochemical parameters, microbiological quality, and antibacterial activity of honey from the Bucovina region of Romania

In this study, the physicochemical properties (electrical conductivity (EC), pH, free acidity, moisture content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, total polyphenols content (TPC), flavonoids content (FC), individual polyphenols, carbohydrates, and organic acids), microbiological quality, and antibacterial activity of honey (raspberry, rosehip, alfalfa, hawthorn, and honeydew honey) from Bucovina were evaluated. Along with melissopalynological analysis, the physicochemical parameters were determined for the honey samples to characterize the samples and to assess their applicability in classifying honey based on its botanical origin. Another objective of the study was the evaluation of the microbiological quality and antibacterial activity of honey samples. The antibacterial activity was examined against the growth of four pathogenic bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC 14028) by the diffusion test in the agar well and by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The analyzed honey samples were within the safe limits, except for three samples in which Bacillus cereus was detected and two other samples that had values above the acceptable limit for yeasts. Thus, 40.46% of all honey samples had bactericidal activity that was superior or at least comparable to manuka honey MGO550 against Staphylococcus aureus, 57.69% against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, 74.15% against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 75% against Escherichia coli. Of all types of honey analyzed in this study, honeydew honey had the highest bactericidal activity, followed by polyfloral honey.

An Overview of the Nutritional Requirements of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758)

Honey bees are known for their wide global distribution, their ease of handling, and their economic and ecological value. However, they are often exposed to a wide variety of stress factors. Therefore, it is essential for beekeepers to maintain healthy bee colonies. In this context, a balanced diet is recommended to support the growth of strong and healthy honey bee colonies. The purpose of this review is therefore to provide an overview of the nutritional requirements of Apis mellifera and their importance for the maintenance of healthy bee colonies. An adequate diet includes the consumption of sufficient amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, water, and essential sterols, and a diet based on multi-floral pollen is desirable. However, when honey bee colonies are located near agroecosystems with lower resource diversity, both brood rearing and colony longevity may decrease, making them more susceptible to parasites and diseases. On the other hand, efforts have been made to improve the health of honey bee colonies with the help of nutritional supplements consisting of a variety of components. Nevertheless, studies have shown that even with these supplements, a lack of nutrients can still be an issue for honey bee colonies. Furthermore, future research should focus on identifying nutritional supplements that can better replicate natural diet diversity and assessing long-term effects on honey bee colony resilience, especially in low-flowering areas. This review discusses the interaction between nutrient requirements and the effects of supplements on colony health.

How Phenolic Compounds Profile and Antioxidant Activity Depend on Botanical Origin of Honey-A Case of Polish Varietal Honeys

Honey contains natural biologically active compounds, and its preventive and healing properties are primarily linked to its antioxidant activity. The antioxidant properties of honey can be related to the botanical origin and content of phenolic compounds. We tested 84 honey samples from Poland, representing eight honey varieties: acacia, phacelia, buckwheat, linden, rapeseed, heather, goldenrod, and honeydew. High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) was used to determine the phenolic compound composition of honey extracts. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and DPPH radical-scavenging activity were also evaluated. We detected vanillin aldehyde, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and trans-ferulic acid, as well as flavonoid pinocembrin, in all honey varieties. The results of our study showed that honeys with high antioxidant activity were characterized by significantly higher total phenolic compounds content. Neither clustering method nor principal component analysis (PCA) showed clear separation of each honey variety, possibly due to high intra-variety diversities. We suppose that the variability of qualitative and quantitative phenolic compound composition within honey varieties may result from the region of origin, secondary nectar sources, and the time of harvest.

Phenolic Acid and Flavonoid Content Analysis with Antioxidant Activity Assessment in Chinese C. pi. Shen Honey

The nutritional value of honey is closely related to its components, which are highly influenced by the botanic origin. C. pi. Shen (Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen), a key plant in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly produced in Gansu Province of China, has attracted much attention for its medicinal value. However, there are few reports about C. pi. Shen honey. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the contents of phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities in C. pi. Shen honey by colorimetric, UPLC-MS/MS, Ferric ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 2,2-bisazo-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazole-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical capacity, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine (DPPH) scavenging ability methods. In comparison with four other high-yield unifloral honeys in China (Acacia honey, linden honey, rape honey, and jujube honey), C. pi. Shen honey demonstrated remarkable advantages. Specifically, the levels of total phenolic acids, total flavonoids, and phenolic components of C. pi. Shen honey were significantly pronounced, especially protocatechuic acid and kaempferol. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of C. pi. Shen honey was also excellent, which was attributed to its phenolic compounds, underscoring its potential biological value. This study is anticipated to serve as a reference for the identification, nutritional assessment, and functional advancement of C. pi. Shen honey.

Antioxidant Activity of Honey Bee Products

Antioxidants have gained significant importance in modern nutrition [...].

Correlation between Honey Parameters and Wound Healing Properties: The Case of Piedmont (Italy) Samples

INTRODUCTION

Honey possesses several positive properties, making it effective in wound healing mechanisms. However, very little information is available on the different honey types for wound healing activity.

METHOD

In the first "Academy of Sciences", a public engagement project with high school students, we assessed the properties of thirteen kinds of honey from the Piedmont area (Nord West Italy). In particular, we characterized the color intensity (by Pfund scale), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), H2O2 production, and wound closure rate.

RESULTS

Then, we tried to verify the presence of a correlation between these parameters, finding a positive correlation between H2O2 and wound closure rate.

CONCLUSION

These data pave the way to characterize different types of Italian honey to completely understand its potential.

Potential use of Apis mellifera L. honey in the management of the cucurbit powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) under greenhouse conditions

Powdery mildew by Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) is a major disease of greenhouse cucurbitaceous crops worldwide. Honey by honeybees has been reported as an antimicrobial for diseases in humans, animals, and plants. The aim of this study was to assess Apis mellifera honey against P. xanthii in cucumber plants. During nine consecutive weeks, four different honey concentrations (2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0% and 3.5%), a chemical control (Azoxystrobin) and an untreated check (water) were evaluated. Except for honey at 2%, every concentration was significantly different from the untreated check. Honey concentrations at 3% and 3.5% were found to be the most effective, and their area under disease progress curve (AUDP) was statistically comparable to that of Azoxystrobin with 1048.3, 642.3 and 575.8 AUDP, representing 72.4%, 83.1% and 84.8% of efficiency compared to the untreated check, respectively. These results provide preliminary information on the potential use of honey in managing strategies of the disease under greenhouse conditions.

Influence of the Chemical Structure of Perylene Derivatives on the Performance of Honey-Gated Organic Field-Effect Transistors (HGOFETs) and Their Application in UV Light Detection

Electronics based on natural or degradable materials are a key requirement for next-generation devices, where sustainability, biodegradability, and resource efficiency are essential. In this context, optimizing the molecular chemical structure of organic semiconductor compounds (OSCs) used as active layers is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of these devices, making them competitive with conventional electronics. In this work, honey-gated organic field-effect transistors (HGOFETs) were fabricated using four different perylene derivative films as OSCs, and the impact of the chemical structure of these perylene derivatives on the performance of HGOFETs was investigated. HGOFETs were fabricated using naturally occurring or low-impact materials in an effort to produce sustainable systems that degrade into benign end products at the end of their life. It is shown that the second chain of four carbons at the imide position present in perylenes N,N'-bis(5-nonyl)-perylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) and N,N'-bis(5-nonyl)-1-naphthoxyperylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI-ONaph) reduces π-stacking interaction in the active layer, leading to lower AC conductivity and the non-functionality of HGOFETs. On the other side, the chain-on molecular orientation in the film of N,N'-dibutylperylen-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (BuPTCD) was fundamental for the efficiency of HGOFETs, showing a better performance than the HGOFETs of N,N'-bis(2-phenylethyl)-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PhPTCD), which has a face-on molecular orientation. Finally, the HGOFETs of BuPTCD and PhPTCD are good candidates as UV light detectors and are used for the detection of UV radiation.

Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Properties, and Antimicrobial Profiling of a Range of West Algerian Honeys: In Vitro Comparative Screening Prior to Therapeutic Purpose

Honey is a complex natural nutrient with well-established therapeutic properties recognized in traditional medicine. The purpose of the current work was to compare, in vitro, the bioactive compounds, antioxidants, and antimicrobial properties of 37 honey samples collected from the western region of Algeria and to identify the best sample for potential therapeutic purposes. Estimation of bioactive compounds was carried out by determining the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Large variability among the samples was observed regarding the total phenolic content (from 24.17 ± 1.38 to 122.15 ± 3.55 mg GAE/100 g honey) and total flavonoid content (from 0.07 ± 0.01 to 33.49 ± 4.90 mg QE/100 g honey). Additionally, antioxidant activity, evaluated by four spectrophotometric assays, displayed fluctuating results among the samples. High positive correlations were observed between β-carotene and DPPH (0.766) and between β-carotene and ABTS (0.600), while inverse correlations were observed between bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity, except for the FRAP method. The antimicrobial activity, determined by well-diffusion assays, exhibited a dose-dependent antibacterial effect, with significant inhibition toward methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa reference strains. However, no activity was observed against Candida albicans strains. The MIC and MBC values were identical in most samples (range: 60 to 80% w/v) and predominantly exhibited bactericidal effects. The content of bioactive compounds played a significant role in the antibacterial properties. To summarize, the best honey sample for potential therapeutic purposes corresponded to mild white mustard (S6) and might be used as an alternative in therapeutic applications.

The Physicochemical Parameters, Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Honey from Stingless Bees and Apis mellifera: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The most common bee species used for honey production is Apis mellifera (A. mellifera), followed by stingless bees. This study included scientific articles using the PRISMA approach. A random effect model was implemented and the effect size (ES) was calculated and reported as the standardized mean difference (SMD) and raw mean difference (RMD). The mean phenolic content in A. mellifera honey was 61.21 ± 28.3 mg GAE/100 g and stingless bee honey +33.69 mg GAE/100 g; p = 0.01. The antioxidant activity, discovered by the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) method, showed a mean of 97.34 ± 7.84 μmol Fe(II)/100 g in A. mellifera and stingless bee honey +63.39 μmol Fe(II)/100 g; p = 0.009. The physicochemical properties showed significant differences in moisture (A. mellifera honey 19.54 ± 3.65%; stingless bee honey +8.02%; p = 0.0001), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (A. mellifera honey 20.14 ± 16.27 mg/kg; stingless bee honey -11.25 mg/kg; p = 0.001), and free acidity (A. mellifera honey 31.32 ± 16.67 meq/kg; stingless bee honey +34.76 meq/kg; p = 0.01). The variability in the trials was explained by the heterogeneity, and a meta-regression analysis incorporated four covariates: (1) stingless bee species; (2) floral source; (3) country, and (4) latitude. This study highlights the importance of conducting further studies on stingless bee honey.

Quantifying the sweetness intensity and impact of aroma in honey from four floral sources

Unlike many commercial sweeteners for which sweetness dose-response curves have been constructed, honey's sweetness has yet to be quantified. Honey differs from most commercial sweeteners in that it has a robust aroma; this aroma may impact its perceived sweetness. This study quantified the sweetness intensity and the impact of aroma on the perceived sweetness of four different honey varieties (clover, wildflower, alfalfa, and orange) compared to sucrose. Each sweetener evaluated was diluted to six concentrations in water ranging from 12.5 g/L to 125 g/L. Panelists (n = 55) rated the sweetness intensities with and without aroma, in replicate, on the Global Sensory Intensity Scale. Additionally, the volatile organic compounds in the honey samples were profiled using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. Honey and sugar were equivalently sweet at a given concentration (g/L), with aroma present (p = 0.251). Additionally, honey and sugar were not equivalently sweet without aroma; aroma significantly increased sweetness intensities for all sweeteners (p = 0.042) and especially honeys. In a 100 g/L solution, the aromas in honey increased its sweetness by 23%-43%, depending on the floral source. Compounds with sweet aroma characteristics were identified at high concentrations in all honey samples using GC/MS analysis, including furfural, benzaldehyde, benzene acetaldehyde, and dimethyl sulfide. Additionally, (S)-limonene and toluene were present in high quantities in the orange and alfalfa samples. This study can inform appropriate honey usage levels and identify major volatiles that may enhance sweetness. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Honey sweetness has not been determined quantitatively, despite the widespread use of honey among consumers and product formulators. Sweetness enhancement by honey aroma volatiles may support a reduction in added sugars while maintaining sweetness intensity.

Exploring formation of turanose in honey via stable isotope labelling and high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis

Turanose, an isomer of sucrose, naturally exists in honey. Previous study indicated that turanose content increased gradually in acacia honey as honeybees brewed honey in the hive. However, it is unclear how turanose is generated in honey. We hypothesised that turanose was produced by enzymes from honeybees and performed a series of simulation experiments to prove this hypothesis. We found turanose in honey was produced by honeybees processing sucrose. Furthermore, we determined that sugar composition of simulated nectar influenced the turanose concentration in honey: when sucrose concentration was below 5%, turanose was difficult to form, whereas high concentration of fructose and limited glucose were beneficial in producing turanose. Using 13C-labelled sucrose tests combined with proteomics analysis, we identified that α-glucosidase converted sucrose to turanose through an intermolecular isomerisation process. This study reveals the formation mechanism of turanose in honey and assists in the scientific control and improvement of honey quality.

LC-MS/MS-QTOF dataset of chemical compounds detected in honey samples from Bali and Lombok, Indonesia

Honey production is susceptible to manipulation by unscrupulous sellers, making honey authentication crucial to prevent fraud. The process of authenticating honey often necessitates the use of various analytical techniques, such as identifying the chemicals present in honey by means of hyphenated mass spectrometry. Here, we report on the investigation of the chemical composition of three honey samples collected at two locations in Lombok and Bali by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The three datasets include information regarding compound name, mass, retention times, as well as findings from database searches. Collectively, these data afford first insights into the compositional profile of honey samples from this specific geographical area.

Bee products: An overview of sources, biological activities and advanced approaches used in apitherapy application

Background

Bee therapy (Apitherapy, Api-treatment, Bee treatment) is a type of biotherapy that uses bees and their products as medicinal or preventative measures to control progression of diseases. In many countries today, apitherapy is a section of complementary and integrative medicine. The aim of this review is to explore the different bee products and their therapeutic potentials.

Method

We searched the literature and then explored and evaluated evidence for bee products' composition, therapeutic abilities and novel techniques used to enhance their effectiveness.

Results

Data revealed that there are continuous advances in research and clinical trials of bee therapy. A better understanding of the composition of bee products generated great interest in their use for medical treatments. Bee products either collected or synthesized promote healing through reducing inflammation, enhancing circulation, and inducing a healthy immunological response, Furthermore, researchers have developed innovative approaches such as nanoparticles, scaffold, nanofibers, and others to increase the bioavailability of bee products and overcome problems with the traditional use of these products.

Conclusion

Bee therapy is a simple, accessible, and easy-to-use pharmaceutical that is used in conventional medicine and has the potential to treat a variety of diseases. However, further studies are needed to prove its efficacy, and safety. Lack of practice regulations is still an issue.

Physicochemical properties and antioxidant potential of honey from Cameroon agroecological zones

Cellular respiration produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to oxidative stress and significant health issues, including chronic diseases and cancer. Antioxidants play a critical role in neutralizing ROS. This study investigates the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of honey sourced from five distinct agroecological zones in Cameroon. Multifloral honey samples (n = 9) were collected from local beekeepers and analyzed for parameters including density, pH, total sugar content, total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), and antioxidant potential (DPPH, FRAP, TAC). The samples ranged in color from light amber to dark amber, with densities between 1.43 and 1.51 g/mL and sugar contents of 70.33 %-83.16 %. pH levels varied from 3.30 to 4.10. Antioxidant analysis revealed phenolic contents ranging from 26.75 to 85.06 mg GAE/100 g and flavonoid contents between 5.22 and 14.47 mg QE/100 g. Significant differences in antioxidant activity were noted, particularly in correlation with color intensity and pH. Honeys with more reddish and greenish hues exhibited better FRAP values, while those with a pH around 4 showed improved DPPH activity. This preliminary study underscores the importance of regional differences in honey quality and its potential health benefits, advocating for further research on the diverse honey types in Cameroon.

Changes in Biochemical Composition and Nutrient Materials in Apocynum pictum Honey During Storage

Apocynum pictum (A. pictum) honey is rich in effective ingredients including flavonoids, terpenes, and alkaloids that are beneficial to human health. In this study, widely targeted metabolomics were used to detect the plant-derived secondary metabolites of the same batch of A. pictum honey from 2022 to 2024, in order to explore whether storage time changes the quality of A. pictum honey, especially the content of plant-derived secondary metabolites with important health benefits. The results showed that storage time had no significant effect on the content of sugars, proteins, and other major components in A. pictum honey. At the same time, we also found that although storage time had an impact on the content of some secondary metabolites such as flavonoids in A. pictum honey, the changes in the content of the characteristic active ingredient, hyperoside, in A. pictum honey were not significant. These findings suggest that storage time has a minimal impact on the quality of A. pictum honey. This study provides a theoretical basis for the rational storage of A. pictum honey.

Comparison of the Physicochemical Properties, Microbial Communities, and Hydrocarbon Composition of Honeys Produced by Different Apis Species

The chemical composition and quality of honey are influenced by its botanical, geographic, and entomological origins, as well as climatic conditions. In this study, the physicochemical characteristics, microbial communities, and hydrocarbon compounds of honey produced by Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, Apis laboriosa, Apis dorsata, and Apis florea were elucidated. The physicochemical profile of the honey exhibited significant differences across species, including moisture content (18.27-23.66%), fructose (33.79-38.70%), maltose (1.10-1.93%), electrical conductivity (0.37-0.74 mS/cm), pH (3.36-3.72), diastase activity (4.50-29.97 diastase number), and color (37.90-102.47 mm). Microbial analysis revealed a significant abundance of lactic acid bacteria, particularly the Apilactobacillus genus in A. laboriosa honey and the Lactobacillus in A. florea honey, indicating significant probiotic potential. Chemometric methods, principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to classify the honey samples based on the 12 beeswax-derived hydrocarbons. The OPLS-DA model demonstrated 100% accuracy in predicting the entomological origin of honey, indicating that specific hydrocarbons are reliable markers for honey classification.

Detecting Honey Adulteration: Advanced Approach Using UF-GC Coupled with Machine Learning

This article introduces a novel approach to detecting honey adulteration by combining ultra-fast gas chromatography (UF-GC) with advanced machine learning techniques. Machine learning models, particularly support vector regression (SVR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), were applied to predict adulteration in orange blossom (OB) and sunflower (SF) honeys. The SVR model achieved R2 values above 0.90 for combined honey types. Treating OB and SF honeys separately resulted in a significant accuracy improvement, with R2 values exceeding 0.99. LASSO proved especially effective when honey types were treated individually. The integration of UF-GC with machine learning not only provides a reliable method for detecting honey adulteration, but also sets a precedent for future research in the application of this technique to other food products, potentially enhancing food authenticity across the industry.

Rapid in situ identification of honey authenticity based on RP-Nano-ESI-MS using online desalting

High-content sugar in honey frequently results in severe matrix effects and requires complex pretreatment prior to analysis, posing significant challenges for the rapid analysis of honey. In this study, the reversal polarity nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-Nano-ESI-MS) analysis was developed for the direct evaluation of honey samples. The results indicated that RP-Nano-ESI-MS significantly mitigated the matrix effects induced by high-content sugar through the implementation of online desalting. Furthermore, RP-Nano-ESI-MS has been proven capable of not only differentiating acacia honey adulterated with 10% rape honey, but also effectively distinguishing six types of honey and exhibiting remarkable proficiency in detecting honey adulteration and botanical traceability. Additionally, RP-Nano-ESI-MS exhibited strong quantitative abilities, effectively characterizing variations in amino acid composition among six types of honey with high stability and reproducibility. Our studies underscore the significant potential of RP-Nano-ESI-MS for its rapid in situ analysis of sugar-rich foods like honey, especially in their authenticity verification.

Honey Bioactive Molecules: There Is a World Beyond the Sugars

Honey's many bioactive compounds have been utilized historically to cure infectious diseases. Beneficial effects are its antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-stimulating qualities. The bee species, geographic location, botanical origin, harvest season, processing, and storage conditions all affect honey's potential for therapeutic use. Honey contains a number of antioxidants and active compounds, such as polyphenols, which have been shown to have disease-preventive properties. Based on their origins, categories, and functions, the main polyphenols found in various honey varieties are examined in this review.

Comparative Study of Phenolic Content and Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Unifloral Quillay Tree (Quillaja saponaria Molina) and Multifloral Honeys from Chile

Honey is a natural sweet element that bees make with flower nectar, revered for its distinct flavor, nutritional value, and potential health benefits. Chilean beekeeping has a diverse range of honey varieties, many of which are unique. The quillay (Quillaja saponaria Molina, soapbark tree) is a Chilean endemic tree whose honey has not been studied in depth. We characterized various Chilean honeys with different botanical origins, with a particular focus on quillay tree honey, analyzing its total phenolic and flavonoid content and its antioxidant activities. Cytotoxicity and hepatoprotective activity were also evaluated using HuH-7 cells. The Spearman correlation between the percentage of quillay pollen in the honey samples and the total phenolic content (R = 0.72; p < 0.05), plus the oxygen radical absorbance capacity, suggests that compounds from quillay contribute to the overall antioxidant capacity of honey. Unifloral quillay honey extracts also protect hepatic cells from oxidative damage induced by peroxyl radicals generated by AAPH. This analysis sheds light on the potential of quillay tree honey, underscoring its significance as a natural source of bioactive phenolic compounds with possible hepatoprotective effects.

Conventional vs. Organically Produced Honey-Are There Differences in Physicochemical, Nutritional and Sensory Characteristics?

Honey is a sweet syrup mixture substance produced by honey bees. Contradictory results have been reported on the influence of organic and conventional beekeeping on the properties of honey. The aim of this research was to determine the potential difference between organically and conventionally produced honey of the same botanical origin (linden, acacia, chestnut, meadow). It was shown that the electrical conductivity (0.16-0.98 mS/cm), optical rotation (-1.00 - (-2.60) [α]D20), pH values (3.30-4.95), free acidity (4.0-9.0 mmol/kg), total content of phenolic (76.5-145.9 μg GAE/g dry weight (d.w.)) and flavonoids (48.7-307.0 μg QE/g d.w.), antioxidant potential, phenolic profile, mineral composition, color (-8.62-126.57 mmPfund) and sensory characteristics, although statistically significant differences were found, were not significantly improved better in the organic samples. All organic honey samples were richer in hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (60.5-112.1 μg CGAE/g d.w.) compared to conventional honey (56.7-91.1 μg CGAE/g d.w.) of the corresponding botanical origin. The results show that organic beekeeping does not lead to the production of honey with significantly better physicochemical, nutritional and sensory properties compared to conventionally produced honey.

Honey Enriched with Additives Alleviates Behavioral, Oxidative Stress, and Brain Alterations Induced by Heavy Metals and Imidacloprid in Zebrafish

Environmental concerns have consistently been a focal point for the scientific community. Pollution is a critical ecological issue that poses significant threats to human health and agricultural production. Contamination with heavy metals and pesticides is a considerable concern, a threat to the environment, and warrants special attention. In this study, we investigated the significant issues arising from sub-chronic exposure to imidacloprid (IMI), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd), either alone or in combination, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal model. Additionally, we assessed the potential protective effects of polyfloral honey enriched with natural ingredients, also called honey formulation (HF), against the combined sub-chronic toxic effects of the three contaminants. The effects of IMI (0.5 mg·L-1), Hg (15 μg·L-1), and Cd (5 μg·L-1), both individually and in combination with HF (500 mg·L-1), on zebrafish were evaluated by quantifying acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, lipid peroxidation (MDA), various antioxidant enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (SOD and GPx), 2D locomotor activity, social behavior, histological and immunohistochemical factors, and changes in body element concentrations. Our findings revealed that all concentrations of pollutants may disrupt social behavior, diminish swimming performances (measured by total distance traveled, inactivity, and swimming speed), and elevate oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers of SOD, GPx, and MDA in zebrafish over the 21-day administration period. Fish exposed to IMI and Hg + Cd + IMI displayed severe lesions and increased GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein) and S100B (S100 calcium-binding protein B) protein expression in the optic tectum and cerebellum, conclusively indicating astrocyte activation and neurotoxic effects. Furthermore, PCNA (Proliferating cell nuclear antigen) staining revealed reduced cell proliferation in the IMI-exposed group, contrasting with intensified proliferation in the Hg + Cd group. The nervous system exhibited significant damage across all studied concentrations, confirming the observed behavioral changes. Moreover, HF supplementation significantly mitigated the toxicity induced by contaminants and reduced OS. Therefore, the exposure to chemical mixtures offers a more complete picture of adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems and the supplementation with bioactive compounds can help to reduce the toxicity induced by exposure to environmental pollutants.

Honey microbiota, methods for determining the microbiological composition and the antimicrobial effect of honey - A review

Honey is a natural product used since ancient times due to its taste, aroma, and therapeutic properties (antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity). The purpose of this review is to present the species of microorganisms that can survive in honey and the effect they can have on bees and consumers. The techniques for identifying the microorganisms present in honey are also described in this study. Honey contains bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses, and some of them may present beneficial properties for humans. The antimicrobial effect of honey is due to its acidity and high viscosity, high sugar concentration, low water content, the presence of hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxidase components, particularly methylglyoxal (MGO), phenolic acids, flavonoids, proteins, peptides, and non-peroxidase glycopeptides. Honey has antibacterial action (it has effectiveness against bacteria, e.g. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter, etc.), antifungal (effectiveness against Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizopus spp., and Penicillium spp.), antiviral (effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, Herpes simplex virus type 1, Influenza virus A and B, Varicella zoster virus), and antiparasitic action (effectiveness against Plasmodium berghei, Giardia and Trichomonas, Toxoplasma gondii) demonstrated by numerous studies that are comprised and discussed in this review.

Eudermic Properties and Chemical-Physical Characterization of Honeys of Different Botanical Origin

Background: Honey is a natural product that, thanks to its composition, particularly the high sugar content, is highly appreciated as an energy nourishment. In addition to sugars, it contains many other substances (carbohydrates, free amino acids, enzymatic proteins, organic acids, polyphenols) from which the therapeutic properties of honey arise: hydrating and osmotic activity, antimicrobial action, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power. Objectives: The present work aims to deepen our knowledge/understanding of the activity of skin protection exerted by honey, as a synergic result of its multiple therapeutic effects. Moreover, this study wants to find possible correlations between biological properties and the chemical-physical traits of honey. Methods: To carry out this research, five varieties of citrus honey, one of acacia honey, one of chestnut honey, and one of multifloral honey were used. The honeys were first characterized by chemical-physical analysis and then were subjected to qualitative melissopalynological analysis. Tests were also carried out to evaluate both their antioxidant power and the effect on collagenase, an enzyme involved in the degradation of collagen present in the extracellular matrix and, therefore, in the processes of skin aging. Finally, honey samples were then used in in vitro experiments to assess their action in stimulating cell viability and proliferation on human keratinocytes. Results: Chemical-physical analysis demonstrated a good water content (about 17%), an important sugar content (with the monosaccharides glucose and fructose being the most represented in all the honey samples), various amino acids (with proline remarkably being the highest in all honeys), and a high concentration of polyphenols and total flavonoids (the maximum in chestnut honey, 762 mg/kg and 514 mg/kg, respectively). Conclusions The results obtained in this work confirm the ethnopharmacological use of honey in wound care, bring new scientific knowledge on the use of honey in dermatology, and highlight two fields of excellence, particularly incitrus and chestnut honey.

Unveiling Stingless Bee Honey Anti-inflammatory Potential Through the Polarization of LPS-induced J774 Macrophages

Macrophages play an important role during the inflammatory process. These cells can adopt either the pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotypes. While stingless bee honeys have demonstrated evidence of anti-inflammatory potential, their capacity to induce a shift from a pro-inflammatory state to an inflammation-resolution state has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of two stingless bees (Scaptotrigona bicunctata-honey A and Melipona quadriasciata-honey G) honeys in J774 macrophages induced by LPS was evaluated. Both honeys exhibited non-cytotoxic effects and reduced nitrite and IL-4 levels. However, only honey G increased the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-13, by 163.1 ± 14.8% (p < 0.05) and was further investigated for its immunomodulatory effect. This honey reduced the expression of TLR4 by 59.3 ± 3.5% (p < 0.001) and increased the mannose receptor levels by 67.3 ± 2.4% (p < 0.001). Moreover, it increased the phagocytic activity by 25.0 ± 7.7% (p < 0.01) and decreased the death of the macrophages by 32.1 ± 1.7% (p < 0.001). Collectively, these findings highlight stingless bee honey from Melipona quadriasciata bee has an important immunomodulatory effect, as it reduces the markers of the pro-inflammatory state of J774 cells and increases the markers of resolution or anti-inflammatory responses.

The Use of Fluorescence Spectrometry Combined with Statistical Tools to Determine the Botanical Origin of Honeys

At a time when the botanical origin of honey is being increasingly falsified, there is a need to find a quick, cheap and simple method of identifying its origin. Therefore, the aim of our work was to show that fluorescence spectrometry, together with statistical analysis, can be such a method. In total, 108 representative samples with 10 different botanic origins (9 unifloral and 1 multifloral), obtained in 2020-2022 from local apiaries, were analyzed. The fluorescence spectra of those samples were determined using a F-7000 Hitachi fluorescence spectrophotometer, Tokyo, Japan. It is shown that each honey variety produces a unique emission spectrum, which allows for the determination of its botanical origin. Taking into account the difficulties in analyzing these spectra, it was found that the most information regarding botanical differences and their identification is provided by synchronous cross-sections of these spectra obtained at Δλ = 100 nm. In addition, this analysis was supported by discriminant and canonical analysis, which allowed for the creation of mathematical models, allowing for the correct classification of each type of honey (except dandelion) with an accuracy of over 80%. The application of the method is universal (in accordance with the methodology described in this paper), but its use requires the creation of fluorescence spectral matrices (EEG) characteristic of a given geographical and botanical origin.

Examining the Use of Polyphenols and Sugars for Authenticating Honey on the U.S. Market: A Comprehensive Review

The rise in honey production and imports into the United States necessitates the need for robust methods to authenticate honey origin and ensure consumer safety. This review addresses the scope of honey authentication, with a specific focus on the exploration of polyphenols and sugar markers to evaluate honeys in the U.S. In the absence of comprehensive federal standards for honey in the United States, challenges related to authenticity and adulteration persist. Examining the global landscape of honey authentication research, we observed a significant gap in the literature pertaining to U.S. honeys. While honeys from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia have been extensively studied, the decentralized nature of the U.S. honey market and the lack of comprehensive standards have limited the number of investigations conducted. This review consolidates the findings of global honey studies and emphasizes the need for further research studies on honey authenticity markers within the United States. We also explore previous studies on the U.S. that focused on identifying potential markers for honey authenticity. However, the inherent variability in polyphenol profiles and the lack of extensive studies of the sugar contents of honey on a global scale pose challenges to establishing universal markers. We conclude that by addressing these challenges, the field of research on polyphenols and sugars in honey can move toward more reliable and standardized methods. This advancement will enhance the use of polyphenols and other constituents like sugars as authenticity markers, ultimately benefiting both researchers and the honey industry in ensuring honey quality.

Polyphenols as the Main Compounds Influencing the Antioxidant Effect of Honey-A Review

Honey is one of the most valuable components of the human diet. It is considered to be a functional food with health-promoting properties. Honey has bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects; is used to treat wounds and ulcers; relieves stress; supports the treatment of diseases of the digestive and respiratory systems; improves kidney function; and aids in convalescence. The healing and prophylactic effects of honey are closely related to its chemical composition. According to the literature, honey contains over 300 substances belonging to various groups of chemical compounds, some with antioxidant activity, including vitamins and phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids. This article provides insight into honey's chemical composition and its pro-health activities. The antioxidant properties of honey were prioritized.

Sugar profile and sensory properties of honey from different geographical zones and botanical origins in Tanzania

Honey composition and sensory properties depend greatly on its botanical and geographical origins. In this study, the sugar profile and sensory properties of honey samples from different geographical zones and botanical origins in Tanzania were investigated. Thirty-two samples (3 zones x 2 origins x 4 samples) + (2 zones × 1 origin x 4 samples) were collected from the seven regions in five zones as follows; Simiyu (lake zone), Tabora and Dodoma (central zone), Manyara (northern zone), Morogoro (eastern zone), and Kigoma and Katavi (western zone) and evaluated for sugar profile and sensory properties using standards methods. Honey samples were primarily composed of fructose (39.5-47 g/100 g), glucose (32.0-35.0 g/100 g) and a small amount of sucrose (5.1 ± 0.50-7.3 ± 0.7 g/100 g). The total sugar ranged from 72.6 to 75.8 g/100 g/100g. The variations in sugar contents between zones and botanical origin were significant (p < 0.05) except for glucose. Sample from miombo origin in the lake and eastern zones had the highest fructose value (41.9 ± 0.8-42.04 ± 4.34 g/100 g) compared to lowest values (39.5 ± 2.17 g/100g) in a western zone while northern and lake zones had significantly (p < 0.05) highest and lowest sucrose values respectively. In all zones, acacia samples had higher fructose and sucrose contents than their miombo counterparts. As for the sensory profile, miombo samples in the western zone had significantly (p < 0.05) higher colour (8.0 ± 0.64) and aroma (7.5 ± 1.09) intensities while the lake zone samples had higher clarity (6.9 ± 1.76) than other zones' samples. The findings have demonstrated that the geographical and botanical origins have a significant impact on the sugar profile and sensory profile of Tanzania honey. However, despite the variations, the consumption of honey from these zones and origins should be encouraged in light of their nutritional and related known health benefits.

Exploring honey's potential as a functional food for natural sleep aid

Sleep disorders present significant challenges to public health, necessitating effective and sustainable solutions beyond conventional pharmacological interventions. This study aims to investigate the potential of honey and its compositions as a functional food for addressing sleep disorders. A comprehensive review of existing literature explores honey's intrinsic properties and impact on sleep quality. The findings suggest that honey, with its unique composition and soothing effects, offers a promising avenue for enhancing sleep patterns without relying on pharmaceutical drugs. This study also discusses the possible mechanism of action and the challenges of using honey in this field. While further research is needed to elucidate specific mechanisms and optimal utilisation, integrating honey into holistic sleep management strategies holds promise for improving overall well-being and quality of life.

Portable NIR Spectroscopy to Simultaneously Trace Honey Botanical and Geographical Origins and Detect Syrup Adulteration

Fraudulent practices concerning honey are growing fast and involve misrepresentation of origin and adulteration. Simple and feasible methods for honey authentication are needed to ascertain honey compliance and quality. Working on a robust dataset and simultaneously investigating honey traceability and adulterant detection, this study proposed a portable FTNIR fingerprinting approach combined with chemometrics. Multifloral and unifloral honey samples (n = 244) from Spain and Sardinia (Italy) were discriminated by botanical and geographical origin. Qualitative and quantitative methods were developed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression to detect adulterated honey with two syrups, consisting of glucose, fructose, and maltose. Botanical and geographical origins were predicted with 90% and 95% accuracy, respectively. LDA models discriminated pure and adulterated honey samples with an accuracy of over 92%, whereas PLS allows for the accurate quantification of over 10% of adulterants in unifloral and 20% in multifloral honey.

Comparative study of physiochemical properties in Iranian multi-floral honeys: Local vs. commercial varieties

Iran, a leading honey-producing country, faces challenges in honey exports. This study aimed to evaluate the melissopalynological and physicochemical characteristics of local honeys belonging to Iranian flora, and compare them with Iranian commercial honeys. For this purpose, seven local honey samples were collected from Iran's renowned floristic regions, alongside seven commercial multi-floral honeys from a supermarket. Moisture content (MC), total solids (TS), pH, free acidity (FA), ash, electrical conductivity (EC), sugar profile, hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), diastase number (DN), and proline were assessed. The sugar profile was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with a refractive index detector (HPLC-RID). Pollen analysis classified local honeys as multi-floral. The results revealed that MC, TS, pH, FA, ash, and EC values in both local and commercial samples conformed to approved standards (Codex Alimentarius and European Union). Two local and one commercial sample exclusively satisfied the sucrose standard level. Of the local honeys, two samples complied with HMF standard, while five fulfilled DN criterion, and four had proline values within acceptable ranges. Conversely, HMF (56.32-228.11 mg/kg), DN (3.13-7.22 Schade units/g), and proline (109.84-173.86 mg/kg) levels in all commercial samples failed to meet the standard. A significant correlation was found between ash and EC (r = 0.915, p < 0.01) in local honeys, whereas no strong correlation (r = 0.299) existed in commercial samples. Hierarchical cluster analysis confirmed that Iranian honeys lacked clustering by botanical origin, possibly due to extensive sugar adulteration or thermal treatment. Overall, study findings confirmed the significantly inferior quality of Iranian commercial honeys compared to local varieties, albeit some local samples also exhibited quality concerns. Accordingly, it is recommended that regulatory bodies provide periodic training for beekeepers and establish monitoring programs to enhance honey quality, thereby boosting Iran's share in the global honey export market.