Influence of spatial variation on the physicochemical properties and minerals content of stingless bee honey (Heterotrigona itama) in Terengganu Malaysia

Norhayati, Ngah and Izzati Shahira, Rosidi Sujanto and Nur Syahidah, Ramly and John Tang, Yew Huat and Asmaliza, Abd. Ghani and Nadiawati, Alias and Salmah, Mohamed and Abd Jamil, Zakaria (2021) Influence of spatial variation on the physicochemical properties and minerals content of stingless bee honey (Heterotrigona itama) in Terengganu Malaysia. In: ICAFT 2021, 02-03 Mac 2021, UniSZA.

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Abstract

The growing interest in the usage of stingless bee honey as functional food proceeds from its composition, which has been associated with bio-medicinal properties. However, the composition of honey is varies depended on the types and origin of bees’ food; which are flower nectar and plant honeydew. Thus, this study was done to investigate the influence of spatial variation on the physichochemical and minerals content of stingless bee honey in Terengganu. Honey produced by Heterotrigona itama were collected from four stingless bee apiary which are Banggol Peradong, Kubang Jela, Benting Lintang and Tembila. All those location surrounded with different plant diversity; Banggol Peradong with fruits orchard, Kubang Jela with ornamental plants, Benting Lintang with coconut trees and Tembila with gelam trees. The physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid compound and minerals of stingless bee honey were evaluated. Results obtained shows that the pH of honey at all locations were acidic, ranging from 3.31-3.54. Honey from Benting Lintang is the sweetest (71.69 ± 0.075°Brix) followed Tembila (70.51 ± 0.028° Brix), Kubang Jela (69.77 ± 0.060°Brix) and Banggol Peradong (69.40 ± 0.052°Brix). Moisture content of honey ranged from 32.11 to 33.13% and electrical conductivity of 0.65 to 1.46mScm-1 which show significant different between the four locations. For color, the L, a* and b* values ranged from 44.18 to 52.52, 0.04 to 2.15 and 10.36 to 14.82, respectively. The flavonoid content of honey samples ranged from 0.28 to 0.42 mg/ml as mg catechin equivalents (CEQ) per ml of honey while phenolic content gives the value from 39.38 to 78.44 mg/L as mg of Gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per L of honey. Antioxidants activity of this honey gives value from 77.26 to 85.54% which the lowest was Banggol Peradong and the highest was Benting Lintang. The major component of minerals as sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) ranged from 63.929 to 118.902 mg/L, 12.197 to 29.342 mg/L, 5.816 to 27.364 mg/L and 18.095 to 40.170 mg/L, respectively. It can be concluded that the physichochemical and minerals content of honey by H. itama is differ between locations due to the variation of plant diversity at respective locations. Data obtained provide the information on the effect of spatial biodiversity variation on the quality of stingless bee honey in Malaysia.

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