Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are the two main microsporidian parasites causing nosematosis in the honey bee Apis mellifera. The aim of the present study is to investigate the presence of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae in the area of Bulgaria. The 16S (SSU) rDNA gene region was chosen for analysis. A duplex PCR assay was performed on 108 honey bee samples from three different parts of the coun...

Honey is rich in different secondary plant metabolites acting as natural antioxidants and contributing to human health. Radical scavenging activity (RSA) is related to antioxidant activity, while the correlation between the phenolic content and RSA is often weak. Consequently, exclusive information on phenolics is often insufficient to qualify the RSA and the health promoting effects of honey. ...

In this study, a QuEChERS method and gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GCTOFMS) was developed for rapid extraction and simultaneous determination of 12 pesticide residues in honey. The GC×GC-TOFMS method was validated according to the SANCO guidance in terms of linearity, selectivity, reproducibility and recovery. Regarding the results, recovery rates ranged b...

BACKGROUND Honey contains a complex mixture of carbohydrates and other minor substances. Elements are minor constituents of honey that may threaten the human health in excess concentrations. So, determining the metals in honey helps its quality control as a food product. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of some metals in Iranian honey. METHODS This study was performed...

Colour and floral origin are key parameters that may influence the honey market. Monofloral light honey are more demanded by consumers, mainly due to their flavour, being more valuable for producers due to their higher price when compared to darker honey. The latter usually have a high anti-oxidant content that increases their healthy potential. This work showed that it is possible to correctly...

Monofloral lavender honey samples (n = 30), were analyzed to test antifungal effect against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The specific growth rates (μ) showed that all the yeast growths were reduced in the presence of honey. The honey concentration (% w/v) that inhibited 10% of the yeasts growth (X min) ranged from 31.0% (C. albicans), 16.8% (C. krusei) and 23.0...

In order to assess their physicochemical and antioxidant properties as well as their antimicrobial potency, four varieties of honey from different botanical and geographical origins were used. The agar incorporation method was used to determine the antimicrobial potency of honeys. The total phenol content was determined by a modified Folin-Ciocalteu method and the free radical scavenging activi...

Botulism is a serious paralytic disease caused by Clostridium botulinum toxin in foods. There are seven recognized serotypes of botulinum neurotoxins among which the principal prevalent types in humans include A, B and E. Infant botulism results from intestinal colonization and toxin production by C. botulinum spores in babies less than 1 year old. Honey is the most important food discriminated...

Shimanuki, Hachiro, and David A. Knox. 2000. Diagnosis of Honey Bee Diseases. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook No. AH– 690, 61 pp. Apiary inspectors and beekeepers must be able to recognize bee diseases and parasites and to differentiate the serious diseases from the less important ones. This handbook describes laboratory techniques used to diagnose diseases and other abnorm...

The quality of floral honey produced in Saudi Arabia was evaluated. All samples were analyzed for common physicochemical parameters like moisture contents, acidity, ash, pH, conductivity and heavy metal contents. All samples showed proper maturity, considering the low moisture percentage. The total acidity, below 50 meq/kg, in all the samples indicated the absence of undesirable fermentation. A...