Abstract

Forty honey samples from Apis mellifera were collected in different parts of Algeria during 2007 to 2010 and were analysed for parameters including hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), invertase and diastase activities. The spectra of pollen of the honeys collected in those areas were also studied. The results show that the amylase activity ranged from 4.40 to 30.15 DN, with only one sample having a low diastase number than 8 DN. The invertase activity ranged from 0 to 138.38 UE. Invertase is generally present in small amounts and is inactivated by heating. The HMF values in our study were low (<40 mg/ kg). 85% of samples (34 samples) had a HMF content less than 15 mg/kg HMF. The results of mellissopalynology show that the NPG/10 g for all samples of honey ranged from 8 × 10³ to 2.01 × 10⁶; all samples studied are original flower honey. We also note that the dominant pollen in the majority of samples was: pollen of Eucalyptus, Trifolium sp, Echium sp, Hedysarium corornarium and to a lesser extent, Asteraceae (mostly Carduus), Apiaceae, Ericaceae, Rosaceaeare  and Rutaceae. In general, the samples were found to meet the requirements of the international honey standards.

Key words: Honey, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase activity, invertase activity, mellissopalynology.