Scientific journal

46 2007

Journal of Food and Nutrition Research
Summary No. 4 / 2007

BARTÁKOVÁ, K. - VORLOVÁ, L. - TITĚRA, D. - LUTZOVÁ, M.
Physicochemical parameters and botanical origin of Czech honeys
Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 46, 2007, No. 4, s. 167-173

Klára Bartáková, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1-3, CZ - 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic. Tel.: +420 541 562 720; fax: +420 541 562 711; e-mail: bartakovak@vfu.cz

Summary: In this study, 7 physicochemical parameters of quality and botanical origin of 37 honeys harvested in 2003 in Czech Republic were analysed and evaluated. The parameters were as follows: electrical conductivity 9.8–127.3 mS.m-1; water contents 15.0–20.0 %; water activity 0.485–0.607; pH value 3.64–4.95; hydroxymethylfurfural contents 0.00–15.51 mg.kg-1; invertase activity 6.8–238.1 U.kg-1; diastase activity 9.8–40.9 degrees on the Schade scale. Microscopic analysis of pollen grains revealed that the main part of the honeys originated from rape, lime and acacia. Dependence of the electrical conductivity on the botanical origin was observed, when rape and acacia honeys displayed the lowest electrical conductivity. The highest electrical conductivity of all blossom honeys was found in lime tree honeys. The four monitored physicochemical parameters correlated with electrical conductivity of the honey with a statistical significance (invertase activity – p < 0.0001; pH – p < 0.0001; diastase activity – p < 0.001; water activity – p < 0.05). No significant dependence was observed between the electrical conductivity and water contents or hydroxymethylfurfural contents.

Keywords: honey; quality; physicochemical parameters; botanical origin

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