Physicochemical and biological properties of honey samples of Melipona beecheii Bennett collected at Hopelchén, Campeche.

Abstract

Objective: Contribute to the establishment of physicochemical and biological parameters of Melipona beecheii honey produced in the state of Campeche, as a basis for a future proposal for the establishment of an official mexican standard for melipona honey.

Design/methodology/approach: Honey samples of Melipona beecheii from the community of Hopelchén, Campeche, were analyzed. The results showed an acid honey with pH 3.89 ±0.13, free acidity 49.85 ±1.74, total acidity 68.09 ± 2.12, Brix 76.95%, humidity 21.38%, HMF 6.43 ±0.84, diastase index 8.58 ±0.25, and color intensity 187.33 ±7.9.

Results: The honey had a low phenolic content 28.45 ±1.14 mgEAG/kg and flavonoids 0.072 ±0.01 mg/kg. The low phenolic content interfered with the antioxidant activity revealing an EC50 of 0.76, the honey showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomona aeruginosa and Pseudomonas syringae. Chromatographic profiles of the honey obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were evaluated by chemometrics in order to classify the honey in relation to the similarity of the chromatographic profiles.

Limitations on study/implications: The great variability that exists among the small number of samples analyzed that are produced in the state of Campeche, despite being at close distances, makes it necessary to characterize the honeys by geographic zones.

Findings/conclusions: The parameters determined in this study contribute to the understanding of the variability in values, which is crucial for establishing quality and authenticity standards for honey. These standards will not only be applied to honey produced by the M. beecheii species, which is widely used in the southeast of Mexico, but also to other types of honey.