Analysis of moisture, color, phenolic and palynological composition of honey from the Roraima savannah in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Introduction: Honey is a food widely used for therapeutic purposes, and its characterization is essential. In the Amazon region, honey stands out for its properties derived from rich biodiversity, contributing to its distinct characteristics. Amazonian honey is particularly valuable due to its potential benefits. Objective: To analyze seventeen samples of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) honey from Roraima, Brazil, regarding their physicochemical and palynological characteristics. Methodology: Moisture was determined by refractometry, color by spectrophotometry (Pfund mm), phenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and melissopalynology by acetolysis. Results: The average moisture content was 23.41%, with prevalent colors being amber, light amber, and dark amber (mean: 105.18 Pfund mm). Phenolic content ranged from 26.27 to 56.61 (GAE/100g honey). Pollen composition revealed 30 types of pollen grains, predominantly Mimosa pudica L., Acacia mangium Willd, Poaceae type, Mauritia flexuosa L., and Curatella americana L. A positive correlation was found between phenolic content and honey color (coefficient: r=0.93). Moisture showed a positive correlation (0.41) with color. Pollen grains of Acacia sp. were correlated with phenolics (0.50) and color (0.57). Conclusion: The study highlighted variations influenced by native vegetation. Darker honeys exhibited higher phenolic content, associated with botanical origin, particularly the high frequency of Acacia mangium Willd. pollen, indicating its relevance to local beekeeping and confirming the geographic origin of the samples.

Keywords: Amazonian honey; phenolics; melissopalynology; botanical origin.