PALYNOLOGICAL, PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES PROFILE IN SOME TYPES OF HONEY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Abstract

Three types of monofloral honey (rapeseed honey, buckwheat and lavender) from the Republic of Moldova were analyzed. The results of the palynological analysis showed that the samples had a dominant type of pollen (at least 45%). In the case of lavender honey, the pollen of the plant Lavandula angustifolia is present in an average value of 74.83 ± 0.3; in rapeseed honey - Brassica napus and for buckwheat honey -Fagopyrum esculentum in average values as follows: 56.07 ± 0.3 and 68.08 ± 0.2% respectively. The study of the content of biologically active substances showed that buckwheat honey is the richest in polyphenols (9.00 ± 0.11 mg gallic acid / kg) and carotenoids (4.24 ± 0.57 mg βcarotE / kg), and maximum content of flavonoids is in rapeseed honey (4.52 ± 0.28 mg catechin / kg). Thus, the obtained results confirm that the honey from the Republic of Moldova falls within the limits recommended by the international regulation assuming adequate working conditions, handling, collection and storage of honey by beekeepers from the Republic of Moldova.

Keywords

• honey
• palynological analysis
• physico-chemical properties
• biologically active substances