Physicochemical, bioactive properties and antioxidant of Apis mellifera L. honey from western Paraná, Southern Brazil

Abstract The Southern region of Brazil is known for its floral diversity, presenting great potential for bee products such as honey, pollen, propolis and royal jelly. In this study, 67 honey samples provided by beekeepers from 14 municipalities of western Paraná were evaluated. Physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity were analyzed. The physicochemical parameters of the samples were in compliance with the specifications by national and international standards, presenting average values of 3.26, 34.54 meq.kg-1, 18.75%, 10.79 mg.kg-1, 0.14% and 340.10 µS.cm-1, for pH, acidity, moisture, hydroxymethylfurfural, ash content and electrical conductivity, respectively. The nutritive values of honey, on average, achieved 0.28% of protein from 69.09% of total sugars, 64.57% of reducing sugars and 4.28% of sucrose. Bioactive compounds showed average values of 34.83 mg GAE/100 g-1 of total phenols and 16.26 mg EQ/100 g-1 of flavonoids, enabling antioxidant activity of 2.68 µmol FE (II)/g-1 of FRAP, 1.01 µmol ET/g-1 from ABTS and 0.12 µmol ET/g-1 of DPPH. This first study evaluated the parameters through cluster analysis and observed nine groups formed, as well as the characteristics between the samples with similar reaction. We concluded that the honey samples have high similarity and confirmed the quality of the honey produced.

摘要
巴西南部地区以其丰富的花卉多样性著称，在蜂蜜、花粉、蜂胶、蜂王浆等蜂产品开发方面具备巨大潜力。本研究对取自巴拉那州（Paraná）西部14个市镇的养蜂人提供的67份蜂蜜样本开展了分析评估，检测内容涵盖样本的理化参数、生物活性成分及抗氧化活性。
结果显示，所有样本的理化参数均符合国家及国际标准规范，各项指标的平均值分别为：pH值3.26、酸度34.54 meq·kg⁻¹、水分18.75%、羟甲基糠醛（hydroxymethylfurfural）10.79 mg·kg⁻¹、灰分0.14%以及电导率340.10 µS·cm⁻¹。
蜂蜜的营养组分平均水平如下：总糖占比69.09%、还原糖64.57%、蔗糖4.28%，蛋白质含量为0.28%。生物活性成分方面，总酚（total phenols）平均含量为34.83 mg 没食子酸当量（GAE）/100g，黄酮类（flavonoids）平均含量为16.26 mg 托洛克斯当量（EQ）/100g；对应的抗氧化活性分别为：铁还原抗氧化能力（FRAP，Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power）法2.68 µmol Fe(II)/g、ABTS法1.01 µmol 托洛克斯当量（ET）/g、DPPH法0.12 µmol 托洛克斯当量（ET）/g。
本研究首次通过聚类分析对上述参数开展研究，共划分出9个聚类组，并揭示了反应特性相似的样本间的特征关联。最终研究结论表明，本次分析的蜂蜜样本具有较高的相似性，同时证实了当地生产的蜂蜜品质优良。