Fingerprinting Chemical Markers in the Mediterranean Orange Blossom Honey: UHPLC-HRMS Metabolomics Study Integrating Melissopalynological Analysis, GC-MS and HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS
Konstantinos M. Kasiotis,
Eirini Baira,
Styliani Iosifidou,
Electra Manea-Karga,
Despina Tsipi,
Sofia Gounari,
Ioannis Theologidis,
Theodora Barmpouni,
Pier Paolo Danieli,
Filippo Lazzari,
Daniele Dipasquale,
Sonia Petrarca,
Souad Shairra,
Naglaa A. Ghazala,
Aida A. Abd El-Wahed,
Seham M. A. El-Gamal,
Kyriaki Machera
Affiliations
Konstantinos M. Kasiotis
Laboratory of Pesticides’ Toxicology, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 145 61 Kifissia, Greece
Eirini Baira
Laboratory of Pesticides’ Toxicology, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 145 61 Kifissia, Greece
Styliani Iosifidou
General Chemical State Laboratory, Independent Public Revenue Authority (A.A.D.E.), 16 An. Tsocha Street, 115 21 Athens, Greece
Electra Manea-Karga
Laboratory of Pesticides’ Toxicology, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 145 61 Kifissia, Greece
Despina Tsipi
General Chemical State Laboratory, Independent Public Revenue Authority (A.A.D.E.), 16 An. Tsocha Street, 115 21 Athens, Greece
Sofia Gounari
Laboratory of Apiculture, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, ELGO DHMHTRA, 115 28 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Theologidis
Laboratory of Pesticides’ Toxicology, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 145 61 Kifissia, Greece
Theodora Barmpouni
Laboratory of Pesticides’ Toxicology, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 145 61 Kifissia, Greece
Pier Paolo Danieli
Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via. S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Filippo Lazzari
Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via. S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Daniele Dipasquale
Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via. S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Sonia Petrarca
Consorzio Nazionale Produttori Apistici (CONAPROA), Via N. Guerrizio, 2, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Souad Shairra
Biological Control Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt
Naglaa A. Ghazala
Department of Bee Research, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12627, Egypt
Aida A. Abd El-Wahed
Department of Bee Research, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12627, Egypt
Seham M. A. El-Gamal
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt
Kyriaki Machera
Laboratory of Pesticides’ Toxicology, Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 145 61 Kifissia, Greece
(1) Background: Citrus honey constitutes a unique monofloral honey characterized by a distinctive aroma and unique taste. The non-targeted chemical analysis can provide pivotal information on chemical markers that differentiate honey based on its geographical and botanical origin. (2) Methods: Within the PRIMA project “PLANT-B”, a metabolomics workflow was established to unveil potential chemical markers of orange blossom honey produced in case study areas of Egypt, Italy, and Greece. In some of these areas, aromatic medicinal plants were cultivated to enhance biodiversity and attract pollinators. The non-targeted chemical analysis and metabolomics were conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). (3) Results: Forty compounds were disclosed as potential chemical markers, enabling the differentiation of the three orange blossom honeys according to geographical origin. Italian honey showed a preponderance of flavonoids, while in Greek honey, terpenoids and iridoids were more abundant than flavonoids, except for hesperidin. In Egyptian honey, suberic acid and a fatty acid ester derivative emerged as chemical markers. New, for honey, furan derivatives were identified using GC-MS in Greek samples. (4) Conclusions: The application of UHPLC-HRMS metabolomics combined with an elaborate melissopalynological analysis managed to unveil several potential markers of Mediterranean citrus honey potentially associated with citrus crop varieties and the local indigenous flora.
