Two-Way Characterization of Beekeepers’ Honey According to Botanical Origin on the Basis of Mineral Content Analysis Using ICP-OES Implemented with Multiple Chemometric Tools

Abstract

Asfaka, fir, flower, forest flowers and orange blossom honeys harvested in the wider area of Hellas by professional beekeepers, were subjected to mineral content analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The main purpose of this study was to characterize the mineral profile and content of toxic metals such as lead, cadmium and chromium, and investigate whether specific minerals could assist accurately in the botanical origin discrimination with implementation of chemometrics. Twenty-five minerals were identified (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Si, Ti, Tl, V, Zn) and quantified. Results showed that the mineral content varied significantly (p < 0.05) according to honey botanical origin, whereas lead, cadmium, and chromium contents ranged between 0.05–0.33 mg kg−1, <0.05 mg kg−1, and in the range of <0.12 to 0.39 mg kg−1, respectively. Fir honeys from Aitoloakarnania region showed the highest mineral content (182.13 ± 71.34 mg kg−1), while flower honeys from Samos Island recorded the highest silicon content (16.08 ± 2.94 mg kg−1). Implementation of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), factor analysis (FA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) led to the perfect classification (100%) of these honeys according to botanical origin with the use of Al, As, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Zn and total mineral content. However, the higher lead content in the majority of samples than the regulated upper limit (0.10 mg kg−1), sets the need for further improvements of the beekeepers’ practices/strategies for honey production.

Advances of Spectrometric Techniques in Food Analysis and Food Authentication Implemented with Chemometrics

“…In the study of Louppis et al [5], asfaka, fir, flower, forest flowers, and orange blossom honeys harvested in the wider area of Hellas by professional beekeepers were subjected to mineral content analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). In total, 25 minerals were identified (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Si, Ti, Tl, V, and Zn) and quantified.…”

Discriminant Analysis Toward Demographic Characteristics of Cikaobandung Village Community in Citarum Harum Program

“…Liniear discriminant analysis is a pattern identification technique and is usually used after the application of MANOVA to compute linear combinations of several subject groups to differentiate (Louppis et al, 2019), by determining the classification measure based on the original method and cross validation (Chudzinska & Baralkiewicz, 2011).…”

“…Stepwise discriminant analysis is very useful to predict variables, because with the many predictor variables involved in the analysis, this method automatically selects the best variable to be included in the discriminant function (Louppis et al, 2019). Stepwise discriminant analysis is widely used in selecting models with three or more groups (Baxter, 1994).…”

Fast Classification of Geographical Origins of Honey Based on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis

“…In order to determine the geographical origins of honey, some analytical methods have been proposed by researchers. Chemical analysis methods including high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry [6], isotope ratio mass spectrometry [7], inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy [8][9][10], and gas chromatography mass spectrometry [9] were used to discriminate the geographical and botanical origins of honey. Regional and botanical differences in chemical substances contribute to the discrimination.…”