Physicochemical analysis and sugar profiling of Acacia honey
A. S. Mohamed, M. A. Abdah, K. Ramasamy, M. H. Hasan, I. Aida Hamimi, and E. Zolkapli*
Abstract
Physicochemical analysis and sugar profiling of Acacia honey
- S. Mohamed1, M. A. Abdah2, K. Ramasamy3, M. H. Hasan1, I. Aida Hamimi4, and E. Zolkapli1*
1 Department of Pharmacology and Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia.
2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
3 Department of Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia.
4Department of Food Technology Research Centre, MARDI, Selangor, Malaysia
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Abstract
Acacia honey has been traditionally consumed for its nutritional and medicinal values. This study was conducted to investigate the quality of Malaysian Acacia honey obtained from a beekeeper in Johor. Pollen analysis of the honey was subjected to scanning electron microscope (SEM). Free acidity, pH, electric conductivity, sugars, HMF, ash, moisture and antioxidant content of the honey were also determined. Pollen analysis shows the presences of Robinia pseudoacacia and an unidentified pollen. Based on the pollen frequency classes, Acacia honey is classified as uni-floral honey. The physicochemical data obtained in this study was within the Codex Alimentarius Standards. Apart from that, Acacia honey has high total phenolic (92.04 ± 0.439 mg GAE/kg of honey) but low flavonoid (27.83 ± 2.855 mg QE/kg of honey) contents that responsible for its own sweetness and aroma. In addition, DPPH and FRAP percentage of the samples were concentration dependent. In conclusion, the results of physicochemical analysis of Malaysian uni-floral Acacia honey indicated purity and good quality that meet the standards of natural honey. This study provides additional information for Malaysian honey standard.
Keywords: Physicochemical, Sugar profile, Acacia honey.
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ARTICLE INFO
Received 15th November 2018
Received in revised form 17th December 2018
Accepted 17th December 2018
*Corresponding author: Dr Zolkapli Eshak
Tel: +603-32584602 e mail: zolkapli_eshak@puncakalam.uitm.edu.my
Copyright Malaysian Journal of Microscopy (2018). All rights reserved. ISSN: 1823-7010 eISSN 2600-7444
