Unique physicochemical properties and rare reducing sugar trehalulose mandate new international regulation for stingless bee honey

Zawawi, Norhasnida; Zhang, Jiali; Hungerford, Natasha L.; Yates, Hans S. A.; Webber, Dennis; Farrell, Madeleine; Tinggi, Ujang; Bhandari, Bhesh; Fletcher, Mary T.

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131566

Cited by 47 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…On a botanical approach, two clusters of Heterotrigona itama honeydew and blossom honey were revealed by PCA of physicochemical (ash content, hydrogen peroxide, free acidity, total mineral elements, K, Mg, Ca, total phenolics), and antioxidant (ferric reducing power) parameters in Malaysia (Ng et al, 2021). The honey produced by two species ( Tetragonula carbonaria and Tetragonula hockingsi ) of Australian stingless bees was separated from honey of two species ( Heterotrigona itama and Geniotrigona thoracica ) from Malaysia by HCA and PCA of moisture, electrical conductivity, pH, free acidity, color, glucose, fructose, trehalulose, total phenolics, total minerals, and 14 mineral elements (Zawawi et al, 2022).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The relationships between the targeted metabolites and the three bee genera studied here have a descriptive and quantitative value, but do not replace missing classic quality factors such as enzyme activity, moisture, ash content and electrical conductivity, besides sensory parameters like instrumental color. Indeed, Melipona and Scaptotrigona honey clusters were separated using DA in Venezuela (Vit et al, 1998) and PCA in Brazil (Avila et al, 2018), also the country of origin for Geniotrigona and Heterotrigona from Malaysia, and Tetragonula from Australia (Zawawi et al, 2022). Multiparametric analysis of these three collections of honey were not by NMR but included ash content for Venezuela and also mineral contents for the others.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The honey produced by two species (Tetragonula carbonaria and Tetragonula hockingsi) of Australian stingless bees was separated from honey of two species (Heterotrigona itama and Geniotrigona thoracica) from Malaysia by HCA and PCA of moisture, electrical conductivity, pH, free acidity, color, glucose, fructose, trehalulose, total phenolics, total minerals, and 14 mineral elements (Zawawi et al, 2022).…”

Section: Sugarsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Impact of genus (Geotrigona,Melipona,Scaptotrigona) in the¹H-NMR organic profile and authenticity test of honey processed in cerumen pots by stingless bees in Ecuador

Vit

Meulen²,

Pedro

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The biodiversity of Ecuadorian stingless bees is almost 200 species. Traditional pot-honey harvest in Ecuador is mostly done from nests of the three genera selected here Geotrigona Moure, 1942, Melipona, Illiger, 1806 and Scaptotrigona, Moure 1943. The 20 pot-honey samples collected from cerumen pots and three ethnic honeys “abeja de tierra”, “bermejo”, and “cushillomishki” were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative 1H-NMR honey profiling and for the Honey Authenticity Test by Interphase Emulsion (HATIE). Extensive data of targeted organic compounds (41 parameters) was identified, quantified and described. The three honey types were compared by ANOVA. Amino acids, ethanol, hydroxymethylfurfural, aliphatic organic acids, sugars, and markers of botanical or entomological origin. The number of phases observed with the HATIE was one in Scaptotrigona and three in Geotrigona and Melipona honeys. Acetic acid (19.60 ± 1.45 g/kg) and lactic acid (24.30 ± 1.65 g/kg) were particularly high in Geotrigona honey (in contrast to 1.3 g/kg acetic acid and 1.6 g/kg lactic acid in Melipona and Scaptotrigona), with the lowest fructose + glucose (18.39 ± 1.68) g/100g honey compared to Melipona (52.87 ± 1.75) and Scaptotrigona (52.17 ± 0.60). Three local honeys were tested using PCA (Principal Component Analysis), two were assigned with a correct declared bee origin, but “bermejo” was not a Melipona and grouped with the Scaptotrigona cluster. However, after HCA (Hierarchical Cluster Analysis), the three kinds of honey were positioned in the Melipona-Scaptotrigona cluster. This research supports the targeted NMR-based profiling in pot-honey metabolomics approach for multi-parameter visualization of organic compounds, descriptive and pertained multivariate statistics (Hierarchical Cluster Analysis HCA, and Principal Component Analysis PCA) to discriminate the stingless bee genus in a set of Geotrigona, Melipona and Scaptotrigona honey types. The NMR characterization of Ecuadorian honey produced by stingless bees is a contribution to the needed regulatory norms. A final note on searching stingless bee markers in pot-honey metabolites that may become nutritional trait candidates for phylogeny. Scaptotrigona honey revealed biosurfactant activity in the HATIE, originating a fingerprint Honey Biosurfactant Test (HBT) for the genus in this set of pot-honeys.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sugarsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Impact of genus (Geotrigona,Melipona,Scaptotrigona) in the¹H-NMR organic profile and authenticity test of honey processed in cerumen pots by stingless bees in Ecuador

Vit

Meulen²,

Pedro

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This could be attributed to the fact that stingless bees’ original location is tropical regions and thus their products are mostly multifloral ( Al-Hatamleh et al, 2020a ). For example, research in the past 2 years has shown that stingless bee honeys from Malaysia, Australia and Brazil exhibit unique physicochemical properties ( Fletcher et al, 2020 ; Zawawi et al, 2022 ). Interestingly, stingless bee honey has been reported as a novel source of rare trehalulose sugar (α-d-glucosylpyranosyl-1,1-d-fructofuranose), a structural isomer of sucrose with a sweet taste and very similar physical and organoleptic properties to sucrose ( Ravaud et al, 2007 ).…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Alginate-Based Nanomaterials in Enhancing the Therapeutic Effects of Bee Products

Al-Hatamleh

Alshaer

Hatmal

et al. 2022

Front. Mol. Biosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since the ancient times, bee products (i.e., honey, propolis, pollen, bee venom, bee bread, and royal jelly) have been considered as natural remedies with therapeutic effects against a number of diseases. The therapeutic pleiotropy of bee products is due to their diverse composition and chemical properties, which is independent on the bee species. This has encouraged researchers to extensively study the therapeutic potentials of these products, especially honey. On the other hand, amid the unprecedented growth in nanotechnology research and applications, nanomaterials with various characteristics have been utilized to improve the therapeutic efficiency of these products. Towards keeping the bee products as natural and non-toxic therapeutics, the green synthesis of nanocarriers loaded with these products or their extracts has received a special attention. Alginate is a naturally produced biopolymer derived from brown algae, the desirable properties of which include biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity. This review presents an overview of alginates, including their properties, nanoformulations, and pharmaceutical applications, placing a particular emphasis on their applications for the enhancement of the therapeutic effects of bee products. Despite the paucity of studies on fabrication of alginate-based nanomaterials loaded with bee products or their extracts, recent advances in the area of utilizing alginate-based nanomaterials and other types of materials to enhance the therapeutic potentials of bee products are summarized in this work. As the most widespread and well-studied bee products, honey and propolis have garnered a special interest; combining them with alginate-based nanomaterials has led to promising findings, especially for wound healing and skin tissue engineering. Furthermore, future directions are proposed and discussed to encourage researchers to develop alginate-based stingless bee product nanomedicines, and to help in selecting suitable methods for devising nanoformulations based on multi-criteria decision making models. Also, the commercialization prospects of nanocomposites based on alginates and bee products are discussed. In conclusion, preserving original characteristics of the bee products is a critical challenge in developing nano-carrier systems. Alginate-based nanomaterials are well suited for this task because they can be fabricated without the use of harsh conditions, such as shear force and freeze-drying, which are often used for other nano-carriers. Further, conjunction of alginates with natural polymers such as honey does not only combine the medicinal properties of alginates and honey, but it could also enhance the mechanical properties and cell adhesion capacity of alginates.

show abstract

“…Recently, the composition of honey from meliponines was reviewed in a context where the global honey market is dominated by Apis mellifera (Vit, 2017). The physical-chemical composition of honey from Apis mellifera marketed in Quito was analyzed (Velásquez and Goetschel, 2019), and honey from Meliponini stingless bees from Ecuador (Villacrés-Granda et al, 2021), Costa Rica (Umaña et al, 2021), Australia and Malaysia (Zawawi et al, 2022). Nuclear magnetic resonance is a rapid method to confirm the authenticity of honey (Spiteri, 2015; Yong et al, 2022) and its entomological origin (Vit et al, submitted).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A honey authenticity test by interphase emulsion reveals biosurfactant activity and biotechnology in the stingless bee nest ofScaptotrigonasp. ‘Catiana’ from Ecuador

Vit

2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bees are valuable pollinators of fruit trees and grasses. Honey is a medicinal food of plant and animal origin, with social impact for the wellbeing of bee keepers. The Neotropical apifauna has about 500 species of stingless bees (Meliponini). Commercial beekeeping withApis melliferaunderestimates the cultural legacy of meliponiculture, and both are affected by the presence of fake honeys in the market. Three alternative techniques (interphase emulsion, sensory analysis, and pollen residue) to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were investigated to detect false honeys. One technique was based on an interphase emulsion test, which can be performed by beekeepers, farmers, housekeepers, professionals and consumers of honey in general. Another technique was sensory analysis by a tasting panel, and the third consisted on a palynological preparation with a simplified observation. Five genuine honeys produced byApis mellifera, Geotrigona leucogastra, Melipona mimetica, Scaptotrigonasp.,Tetragonisca angustulaand a fake honey from Ecuador were analyzed. The honey authenticity test by interphase emulsion was fast and effective to detect fake honey (two phases), and genuine honeys (one and three phases). A further screening of was done in 51 Asian, Australia, European and Latinamerican honeys. Additionally the HATIE generated a new application as a test to detect unique biosurfactants in honey (HBT) ofScaptotrigonasp. ‘Catiana’ (one phase) with potential microbial origin, and its entomological origin in this set of honeys. ‘Catiana’ nests smell like Roquefort cheese, indicating a fungus association with this rural stingless bee highlighted by its distribution, productivity and the peculiarities described in this research, 80 years after its description as a new genusScaptotrigonaMoure, 1942. Paradoxically, this communication without microbiological analysis, infers the fungal presence in the nest ofScaptotrigonasp. by sensory observations different from the classic sensory evaluation of honey.

show abstract

Unique physicochemical properties and rare reducing sugar trehalulose mandate new international regulation for stingless bee honey

Cited by 47 publications

References 33 publications

Impact of genus (Geotrigona,Melipona,Scaptotrigona) in the¹H-NMR organic profile and authenticity test of honey processed in cerumen pots by stingless bees in Ecuador

Impact of genus (Geotrigona,Melipona,Scaptotrigona) in the¹H-NMR organic profile and authenticity test of honey processed in cerumen pots by stingless bees in Ecuador

Applications of Alginate-Based Nanomaterials in Enhancing the Therapeutic Effects of Bee Products

A honey authenticity test by interphase emulsion reveals biosurfactant activity and biotechnology in the stingless bee nest ofScaptotrigonasp. ‘Catiana’ from Ecuador

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Unique physicochemical properties and rare reducing sugar trehalulose mandate new international regulation for stingless bee honey

Cited by 47 publications

References 33 publications

Impact of genus (Geotrigona,Melipona,Scaptotrigona) in the1H-NMR organic profile and authenticity test of honey processed in cerumen pots by stingless bees in Ecuador

Impact of genus (Geotrigona,Melipona,Scaptotrigona) in the1H-NMR organic profile and authenticity test of honey processed in cerumen pots by stingless bees in Ecuador

Applications of Alginate-Based Nanomaterials in Enhancing the Therapeutic Effects of Bee Products

A honey authenticity test by interphase emulsion reveals biosurfactant activity and biotechnology in the stingless bee nest ofScaptotrigonasp. ‘Catiana’ from Ecuador

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Impact of genus (Geotrigona,Melipona,Scaptotrigona) in the¹H-NMR organic profile and authenticity test of honey processed in cerumen pots by stingless bees in Ecuador

Impact of genus (Geotrigona,Melipona,Scaptotrigona) in the¹H-NMR organic profile and authenticity test of honey processed in cerumen pots by stingless bees in Ecuador