Integrated methods for fingerprinting of monofloral honeys

Abstract Honey is an important functional food due to its content of polyphenolic compounds with beneficial effects on human body. The analysis of polyphenolic compound in honey is very promising in determination of floral origin and so for quality control. This study approaches a new methodology using integrated methods for the determination of honey authenticity. Polyphenolic compounds from seven different types of monofloral honey from two different sources were extracted and analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Chromatographic analysis was performed on TLC Silica gel 60 RP-18 F254 plates using a mobile phase consisting in a mixture of methanol: water: formic acid (5: 5: 0.1, v/v/v). The images from the TLC analysis were processed and the obtained chromatograms together with the UV-Vis deconvoluted spectra of honey were subjected to visual and statistical analysis. The obtained results showed notable differences between the honey samples, which can be used to establish their floral origin and for their authentication. The proposed methodology is easy to perform, cost-effective and offers complementary information, therefore it has the potential of being used for the honey authentication. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT