Quality Assessment of Honey Sourced from Natural and Artificial Apiaries in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Honey samples were obtained from wild and domesticated sources and analyzed for some physicochemical properties such as color, pH, moisture content, ash content, refractive index, specific gravity, total solid, viscosity, glucose and fructose content following Standard Association of Official Analytical Chemistry. The following range of values for pH (3.55-4.20), moisture content (18.50-25.60%), soluble solids (74.10-81.20%), ash content (0.08-0.14%), specific gravity (1.38-1.47), refractive index (81.3-83.4%), fructose content (40.5-63.04%) and glucose content (19.35-32.34%). The mineral composition analyzed revealed potassium to be the dominant mineral in the honey samples followed by Calcium. However, Cadmium and lead where not detected in the honey samples. The results indicated that parameters such as pH, moisture content, ash content, specific gravity, sugar (majorly fructose and glucose content), fructose/glucose ratio, glucose/water ratio conform within the limit of the international standard for honey. However, moisture contents of the wild honey samples (22.05% and 25.60%) were a little higher than the Codex Standards of ≤ 21%. In conclusion, the honey samples investigated have the needed quality criteria and are good for human consumption. The results also revealed excellent organoleptic acceptability of the honey samples, hence are suitable for human uses.

PDF

___

Abell DC, Frube H, Schweger C, Kwok ASK, Sporns P. 1996. Comparison of processed unifloral clover and canola honey. Apidologie, 27: 451-480.

Adebiyi FM, Akpan I, Obianjuwa EI, Olaniyi HB. 2004. Chemical/physical characterization of Nigerian honey. Pak. J. of Nutr., 3: 278–281.

Adenekan MO, Amusa NA, Okpeze VE, Owosibo AO. 2012. Nutritional and microbiological components of honey samples obtained from Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria, European J. of Sust. Dev, 1(2): 271-286.

Agbagwa, OE, Otokunefor TV, Frank-Peterside N. 2011. Quality assessment of Nigeria Honey and Manuka honey. J. Microbiol. Res,1(3): 20-31.

Amiot MJ, Aubert S, Gonnet M, Tacchini M. 1989. Phelonic composition of honeys. Preliminary study on identification and group quantification, Apidologie, 20: 115- 125.

Amir Y, Yesli A, Bengana M, Sadoudi R, Amrouche R. 2010. Physico-chemical and microbiological assessment of honey from Algeria. Electr. J. Env. Agric. Food Chem, 9:1485-1494.

Anchling F. 2007. L’Abeille de France et t’apiculteur, 942: 495- 504.

Anhwange BA, Yiase SG, Aloo GH Anzaki AJ. 2015. Chemical study of natural and farmed samples of honey from Riyon, Plateau State. Int. J. Mat. Chem. Phy, 1(3):345-351.

AOAC. 1990. Food composition, additives and natural contaminants. In: Official Methods of Analysis. Helrich, K. (ed). Association of Official Analytical Chemists International 2, 15th Edition, Arlington, VA, USA.

AOAC. 2002. Sugar and sugar products. In: Official Methods of Analysis. Horwitz, W.(ed.). Association of Official Analytical Chemists International, Vol. 2 No. 44, 16th Edition, Washington, DC, 22-33.

Bogdanov S, Bieri K, Figar M, Figueiredo V, Iff D, Kanzig A, Stockl H, Zurcher, K, Miel. 1995. Definition et directives pour l’analyse et l’appreciation centre Suisse deerecherché Apicole, Station de recherché laitieres. Liebefeid, Berne.

Bogdanov S, Kaspar R, Livia PO. 2004. Physico-chemical methods for the characterization of Unifloral Honeys: A Review, Apidologie, 35: Pp S4-S17.

Codex Alimentarium Commission. 2001. Revised Codex Standard for Honey, Codex STAN 12-1981, Rev.1. (1987), Rev.2 (2010), FAO/WHO, 215.

Codex Alimentarius. 2004. Draft revisal standard for honey Codex Alimentarius Commission, FAO, Rome, Alinorm, 25:19-26.

Eleazu CO, Iroaganachi M, Okoronkwo J. 2013. Determination of the physico-chemical composition, microbial quality and free radical scavaging activities of some commercially sold honey samples in Abia, Nigeria; ‘The effect of varying colour’. International Journal of Biomedical. 4(1):32-41.

Escuredo O,Seijo M, Fernadez-Gonzalez M. 2011. Descriptive analysis of rubus honey from the north-west of Spain. Int. J. Food Sci. Tech, 46: 2329-2336.

EU Council. 2002. Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001, Revised Codex Standard for Honey. Standard and Standard Methods 11.

Famuyide OO, Adebayo O, Owese T, Azeez PA, Arabomen O, Olugbire OO, Ojo D. 2014.Economic contributions of Honey Production as a meansof livelihood strategy in Oyo State, Int. J. Sci. Technol, 3(1):7-11.

Igwe EC, Dandago A, Binga EW. 2012. Assessment of quality attribution of natural honey from Adamawa State, North Eastern, Nigeria. Afr. J. Food Sci,6(18): 449-455. Doi:10.5897/AJFS12.024

Jacobs BM. (1999). The Chemical Analysis of Foods and Food Products. (3rded.) CBS Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, India.

James OO, Mesubi MA, Usman LA, Yeye SO, Ajanaku KO. 2009. Physical characteristics of some honey samples from North-Central Nigeria. Int. J. Phys. Sci, (4): 464-470.

Joseph T, Awah-Ndukum J, Fonteh Florence A, Delphine ND,Jonnas P ̧ Ze Antoine M. 2007. Physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of honey from the Sudan-Guinean Zone of West Cameroon. Afr. J. Biotech.6 (7):908-913.

Kayode J, Oyeyemi SD. 2014. Physicochemical investigation of honey samples from bee farmers in Ekiti State, Southwest, Nigeria. J. Plant Sci.2(5): 246-249.Doi:org/10.4236/fns.2015.615140

Lawal RA, Lawal AK, Adekalu JB.2009. Physicochemical studies on Adulteration of Honey in Nigeria. Pak. J. Bio. Sci, 12(15): 1080-1084.

Ndife J, Kida F, Makarti T. 2014. Quality assessment of Nigerian honey sourced from different floral locations. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2(4):162.doi:10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.20

National Honey Board. 2002. Honey Health and Therapeutic qualities. http//www.nhb.org/infropub/month/2002/10_2002 monthly report pdf. Retrieved 29thAugust, 2012.

Nwankwo CM, Ezekoye CC, Igbokwe SO. 2014. Phytochemicalscreening and antimicrobial activity of apiary honey produced by honey bee (Apis mellifera) on clinical strains of Staphyloccus aureus, Escherichia coliand Candida albicans. Afr. J. Biotech, 13(23): 2367-2372.

Olugbemi O, Ikeme,C H, Dioha IJ. 2013. Physicochemical analysis of honey from Umuahia, Abia-State, Nigeria. Res. J. Eng. Appl. Sci, 2(3):199-202.

Oshoma MU, Agbaji EB. 2015. Physicochemical assessment of commercial honey from Edo-State, Nigeria. Int. J. Appl. Sci.Eng. Res (IJASER) 4(1): 151-159.Doi: 10.688/ijaser.04015

Ojeleye B. 1999. Chemical composition of honey. The Beekeeper J.1:4-5

Omode PE, Ademukola SA. 2008. Determination of Trace Metal in Southern Nigerian Honeyby use of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy Lett., 41: 328-331.

Oyeyemi SD, Kayode J, Owolabi MO. 2015. Comparative nutritional studies on honey samples in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Donnish J. Med. Plant Res,2(2): 016-020.

Terrab AB, Valdes B, Diez DJ. (2003). Pollen analysis of honey from Mamora forest region (NW Morocco). Grana42(1): 47-54.

Terrab A, Recamales AF, Hernanz D, Heredia FJ. 2004. Characterization of Spanish thyme honey by their physicochemical characteristics and mineral contents. J. Food Chem,4(88): 537-542.

White JW. (1975). Composition of honey, Physical characteristics of Honey. In: A comprehensive survey. Heinemann; Cabon.

White JW, Doner LW. 1980. Honey composition and properties: Beekeeping in the United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 338, Revised October, 82-91.