Comparison of original honey (Apis sp and Tetragonula sp) and fake honey compounds in Indonesia using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Abstract

Honey is a liquid produced by bees from nectar which contains vitamins, acids, minerals, and enzymes that are useful for the human body because honey is very beneficial, it can be used as an alternative medicine for human’s healthiness. Authentication of honey has primary importance for both industries and consumers because until now, there is no guarantee of honey’s authenticity especially in Indonesia. As for the classification of honey bees, is based on the fact that the content of honey produced between Apis sp. and stingless bees (most widely harvested honey bees in Indonesia) have differences depending on the type of honey-producing bee, nectar, geographical location, temperature, etc. In this study, the authors tested samples of original honey and fake honey using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), because GCMS has more accurate results than another test equipment. From this research, the authors obtained compounds that became marker or differentiators between the original honey Apis melifera, A.dorsata, A.cerana and also from fake honey samples (Original honey added with melted fructose and NaHCO3). So that we can find out the possibility of the origin of producing bees and the authenticity of honey by looking at the components contained in honey. The results from this research are Honey from Tetragonula sp species and fake honey have several components of different compounds with honey from Apis sp. Compounds that can be a difference between original and fake honey are ethanol and carbon dioxide.