Physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii L.) in the Oromia region, Ethiopia
AbstractThis study is aimed at determining the physicochemical and microbiological quality of stingless bee honey (Meliponula beccarii) collected in potential areas in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Thirty-nine honey samples from underground soils were collected. The findings of the investigation in...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Cogent Food & Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2258784 |
| _version_ | 1797435557191614464 |
|---|---|
| author | Teferi Damto Deressa Kebebe Meseret Gemeda |
| author_facet | Teferi Damto Deressa Kebebe Meseret Gemeda |
| author_sort | Teferi Damto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractThis study is aimed at determining the physicochemical and microbiological quality of stingless bee honey (Meliponula beccarii) collected in potential areas in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Thirty-nine honey samples from underground soils were collected. The findings of the investigation indicated that the mean values of physicochemical properties for stingless bee honey samples were: moisture content (30.69 ± 0.29%), pH value (3.30 ± 0.03), free acidity (92.39 ± 4.45 meq/kg), ash content (0.16 ± 0.01%), electrical conductivity (0.44 ± 0.2 mS/cm), HMF (6.58 ± 0.36 mg/kg), fructose (36.48 ± 0.54%), glucose (27.67 ± 0.43%), reducing sugar (64.15 ± 0.75%) sucrose (1.24 ± 0.18%) and maltose content (1.2 ± 0.18%). The honey sample studied from Meliponulla beccarii was mostly characterized as having a light amber color (50%). Honey produced by stingless bees is distinguished from Apis mellifera honey by having a lower level of sugar, a higher amount of moisture, and free acidity. There were 2.55 × 104 to 1.9 × 103 CFU/mL of Aerobic Mesophiles, 1.68 × 104 to 9 × 102 CFU/mL of yeast, and 1.8 × 103 to 2 × 102 CFU/mL of mold in the Meliponulla beccarii honey sample. Staphylococcus species could only be detected in a sample taken from the Guduru area; however, an aerobic spore-forming bacteria was undetectable in all stingless bee samples. This suggested that there may have been cross-contamination from primary and secondary sources during pre-harvesting and post-harvest handling. Specific quality specifications must be established to promote commercialization since the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of stingless bee honey differ from those of A. mellifera. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:49:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7cb9b24877f4f1a9673f844fffd9697 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1932 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:49:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Food & Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7cb9b24877f4f1a9673f844fffd96972023-12-01T08:31:55ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Food & Agriculture2331-19322023-12-019110.1080/23311932.2023.2258784Physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii L.) in the Oromia region, EthiopiaTeferi Damto0Deressa Kebebe1Meseret Gemeda2Holeta Bee Research Center, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaHoleta Bee Research Center, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaHoleta Bee Research Center, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaAbstractThis study is aimed at determining the physicochemical and microbiological quality of stingless bee honey (Meliponula beccarii) collected in potential areas in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Thirty-nine honey samples from underground soils were collected. The findings of the investigation indicated that the mean values of physicochemical properties for stingless bee honey samples were: moisture content (30.69 ± 0.29%), pH value (3.30 ± 0.03), free acidity (92.39 ± 4.45 meq/kg), ash content (0.16 ± 0.01%), electrical conductivity (0.44 ± 0.2 mS/cm), HMF (6.58 ± 0.36 mg/kg), fructose (36.48 ± 0.54%), glucose (27.67 ± 0.43%), reducing sugar (64.15 ± 0.75%) sucrose (1.24 ± 0.18%) and maltose content (1.2 ± 0.18%). The honey sample studied from Meliponulla beccarii was mostly characterized as having a light amber color (50%). Honey produced by stingless bees is distinguished from Apis mellifera honey by having a lower level of sugar, a higher amount of moisture, and free acidity. There were 2.55 × 104 to 1.9 × 103 CFU/mL of Aerobic Mesophiles, 1.68 × 104 to 9 × 102 CFU/mL of yeast, and 1.8 × 103 to 2 × 102 CFU/mL of mold in the Meliponulla beccarii honey sample. Staphylococcus species could only be detected in a sample taken from the Guduru area; however, an aerobic spore-forming bacteria was undetectable in all stingless bee samples. This suggested that there may have been cross-contamination from primary and secondary sources during pre-harvesting and post-harvest handling. Specific quality specifications must be established to promote commercialization since the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of stingless bee honey differ from those of A. mellifera.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2258784honeyMeliponulla beccariiMicrobiological qualityPhysicochemical propertiesStingless bee |
| spellingShingle | Teferi Damto Deressa Kebebe Meseret Gemeda Physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii L.) in the Oromia region, Ethiopia Cogent Food & Agriculture honey Meliponulla beccarii Microbiological quality Physicochemical properties Stingless bee |
| title | Physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii L.) in the Oromia region, Ethiopia |
| title_full | Physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii L.) in the Oromia region, Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii L.) in the Oromia region, Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii L.) in the Oromia region, Ethiopia |
| title_short | Physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee (Meliponula beccarii L.) in the Oromia region, Ethiopia |
| title_sort | physicochemical properties and microbial qualities of honey produced by a stingless bee meliponula beccarii l in the oromia region ethiopia |
| topic | honey Meliponulla beccarii Microbiological quality Physicochemical properties Stingless bee |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2023.2258784 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT teferidamto physicochemicalpropertiesandmicrobialqualitiesofhoneyproducedbyastinglessbeemeliponulabeccariilintheoromiaregionethiopia AT deressakebebe physicochemicalpropertiesandmicrobialqualitiesofhoneyproducedbyastinglessbeemeliponulabeccariilintheoromiaregionethiopia AT meseretgemeda physicochemicalpropertiesandmicrobialqualitiesofhoneyproducedbyastinglessbeemeliponulabeccariilintheoromiaregionethiopia |