title: Characterization of Lavandula spp. Honey Using Multivariate Techniques.
abstract: Traditionally, melissopalynological and physicochemical analyses have been the most used to determine the botanical origin of honey. However, when performed individually, these analyses may provide less unambiguous results, making it difficult to discriminate between mono and multifloral honeys. In this context, with the aim of better characterizing this beehive product, a selection of 112 Lavandula spp. monofloral honey samples from several regions were evaluated by association of multivariate statistical techniques with physicochemical, melissopalynological and phenolic compounds analysis. All honey samples fulfilled the quality standards recommended by international legislation, except regarding sucrose content and diastase activity. The content of sucrose and the percentage of Lavandula spp. pollen have a strong positive association. In fact, it was found that higher amounts of sucrose in honey are related with highest percentage of pollen of Lavandula spp.. The samples were very similar for most of the physicochemical parameters, except for proline, flavonoids and phenols (bioactive factors). Concerning the pollen spectrum, the variation of Lavandula spp. pollen percentage in honey had little contribution to the formation of samples groups. The formation of two groups regarding the physicochemical parameters suggests that the presence of other pollen types in small percentages influences the factor termed as "bioactive", which has been linked to diverse beneficial health effects.
authors: Departamento de Biologia e Biotecnologia, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.
authors: Leticia M
authors: LM
authors: Estevinho
authors: Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil.
authors: Emerson Dechechi
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3507-3106
authors: ED
authors: Chambó
authors: Departamento de Biologia e Biotecnologia, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.
authors: Ana Paula Rodrigues
authors: AP
authors: Pereira
authors: Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil.
authors: Carlos Alfredo Lopes de
authors: CA
authors: Carvalho
authors: Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Vagner de Alencar Arnaut de
authors: Vde A
authors: Toledo
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis*; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D027523:Lavandula / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D013395:Sucrose