Melissopalynological and physicochemical analysis of honey samples from Prayagraj District, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

In melissopalynological and physicochemical analyses of 14 honey samples collected from different rural and urban localities of Prayagraj District, Uttar Pradesh, 43 pollen types were identified and categorized as predominant (above 45%), secondary (16–45%), important minor (3–15%) and minor (below 3%). Five of the 14 samples were classified as unifloral due to the presence of predominant pollen types (above 45%), and the other 9 as multifloral. Brassica campestris and Coriandrum sativum were the predominant pollen types in unifloral honey; 14 pollen types were documented in the secondary pollen types (16–45%) in multifloral honey. The analyzed physicochemical parameters included pH (mean 3.40 ± 0.15 to 4.74 ± 0.4), electrical conductivity (mean 0.13 ± 0.03 to 1.39 ± 0.17 mS/cm), total dissolved solids (120 ± 1.23 to 1260 ± 1 ppm), moisture content (12.17 ± 1.39 to 24.78 ± 1.54 mg/100 g) and ash content (0.15 ± .04 to 1.68 ± .27 mg/100g). The color of the honey ranged from water-white to dark amber. Among the minerals, magnesium was found to be most abundant (9 ± 0 to 11.8 ± 0 mg/kg), followed by iron (2.0 ± 0 to 4.8 ± 0 mg/kg) and zinc (0.39 ± 0 to 0.63 ± 0 mg/kg). The heavy metals cadmium, lead, copper and arsenic were below the limit of detection (< 0.01 mg/kg) in all honey samples except in samples H6 (Cd 0.01 mg/kg, Pd 0.27 mg/kg), H11 (Cd 0.02 mg/kg, Pd 0.05 mg/kg), H13 (Pd 0.02 mg/kg) and H14 (Cd 0.01 mg/kg, Pd 0.04 mg/kg). The physicochemical parameters varied significantly (p < 0.05) between samples. Findings of the present study indicate that the honey is of good quality and should be used in projects for commercialization of regional honey.