Investigation on the physicochemical properties and minerals elements of different species of stingless bee honey (Meliponinae)

• Main Authors: Norhayati, Ngah, Abd Jamil, Zakaria, Asmaliza, Abd. Ghani@Yaacob, Nadiawati, Alias, Salmah, Mohamed, John Tang, Yew Huat
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: S Agriculture (General); SF Animal culture
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/4701/1/FH03-FBIM-21-51669.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/4701/

Flower constancy by the different species of stingless bee influence the quality of honey. This study aims to compare the physichochemical properties, antioxidant activity and minerals elements of stingless bee honey produced by Heterotrigona itama, Geniotrigona thoracica, Lepidotrigona terminata and Heterotrigona erythrogastra reared at Banggol Peradong, Manir, Terengganu, Malaysia. The pH of all honey is acidic and differs between bees species with H. erythrogastra (pH 2.98) is the most acidic. The Brix (ranges from 67.72 to 69.98 °Bx) and electrical conductivity (ranges from 555.2 to 784.8 mS cm-1) exhibited the highest and lowest values both in L. terminata and H. erythrogastra, respectively. Heterotrigona erythrogastra honey possessed significantly highest moisture content (34.507%) compared to the other honey. The tristimulus values of colour indices L*, a*, and b* showed significant difference between four types of honey. The value of L* range from 49.449 to 64.006, a* values range from -4.287 to 1.890 and b* values range from 10.116 to 35.920. Lepidotrogona terminata had the darkest honey colour, while G. thoracica had the lightest honey colour. Both total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were the highest in L. terminata. Meanwhile, TPC and TFC were the lowest in H. erythrogastra and G.thoracica respectively. The highest antioxidant activities were found in L. terminata honey which is 80.26% of DPPH degradation while the lowest antioxidant activity was found in the H. erythrogastra honey which is 73.9% of DPPH degradation. Heterotrigona itama had the most abundant of major components of calcium, magnesium and sulphur with value 29.342 mg/L, 23.289 mg/L and 102.702 mg/L, respectively. The concentration of manganese was the lowest in all species when compared to other elements. Characterization of honey from the different stingless bee species of same locality showed variabilities that may due to different flower preferences of the different species.