Cromathographic Profile of Volatiles of Multifloral and Unifloral Honey Collected by Apis Mellifera from Transilvania, Romania

Abstract

Chromatographic profile of volatiles organic compounds (VOCs) from several varieties of multifloral and unifloral honey produced in Transylvania, Romania, was analysed in order to determine the differences between them. VOCs collected using solid phase microextraction (SPME) technique were analysed by gas-chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). The fiber used was Carboxen / PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) 75�m. By qualitative analysis, a number of 98 volatiles in unifloral honey and 52 volatiles in multifloral honey were identified. The differences regarding volatile compounds of multifloral honey were observed to be between varieties from different areas of Transylvania (mountain, plain, hill and urban area) while in the case of unifloral assortments (rapeseed, acacia, sunflower and linden) differences were observed at specific compounds. Compounds identified in our samples were grouped into main classes of substances: hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, organic acids and their esters, furan and pyran derivatives and terpenes.

The Use of SPME-GC-MS IR and Raman Techniques for Botanical and Geographical Authentication and Detection of Adulteration of Honey

“…Volatile compounds of honey are related to the floral origin and could be used as biomarkers. SPME followed by GC-MS for determining the volatile profile of honey are used as a tool for the botanical characterization of several different types of honeys [ 8 , 11 , 14 , 21 , 27 , 37 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 ].…”

“…On the other hand, marker compounds for sunflower honey were 3-furfural aldehyde, (3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene) acetaldehyde, 1,3,3-trimethylcyclohex-1-ene-4-carboxaldehyde, p -menthan-3-one, endo-borneol, menthol, myrtenol, verbenone, isopiperitone, p -cymen-7-ol, eugenol, β -calarene, cis -linalool oxide (furanoid), and hotrienol. The specific markers for linden honey were the compounds 6-allyl-o-cresol, allylphenylsulfide, butanoic acid, 3,6-dimethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzofuran, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylpropyl)-benzene, trans -dihydrocarvone, o -methylacetophenone, isoneral, isopropyl benzene, geranic acid, sabinene, teresantalol, 2-undecenal, p -cymene, and myrtenyl acetate, while rape honey as characterized by the presence of 3-methylpentanol, pentanoic acid, ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzoate, trans -linalool oxide, α , α ,4-trimethylbenzyl alcohol, lilac alcohol C, 3-phenyl propanol, dihydro-5-propyl-2(3 H )-furanone, ethyl decanoate, ethyl 3-hydroxytridecanoate, ethyl dodecanoate, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl oleate, ethyl benzoate, and 3-methylbutanol [ 8 ].…”

“…In rape honey, benzoic acid and its ethyl ester were considered the most characteristic and abundant compounds [ 8 , 37 ]. Other compounds suggested as markers for rape honey include benzoic alcohol [ 37 ], 1-pentanol-3-methyl, and 1-butanol-3-methyl [ 8 ].…”

“…Cioltaus at al. [ 8 ] successfully distinguished multifloral honeys from different areas of Transylvania, using SPME-GC-MS technique. The differentiation of volatile profile was obtained between varieties of different native floral sources (mountain, hill, valley, urban).…”

“…The composition of honey depends on collection season, climate conditions, proximity to the forest, characteristics of soil which determine melliferous flora, method of storage, processing, and practices of beekeeping, and even interactions between chemical compounds and enzymes [ 3 , 8 , 9 ]. However, the aroma and taste of honey, owed to the volatile compounds, are dependent mainly on the botanical and floral origin of honey [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”