CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME PROPERTIES IN DIFFERENT FLORAL HONEYS COLLECTED BY APIS MELLIFERA L.

The chemical composition of floral honeys collected by Apis mellifera L. from Ziziphus (Ziziphus spp.), Acacia (Acacia spp.), Trifolium (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), Citrus (Citrus spp.) and Behkar (Adhatoda vasica) were analyzed. The moisture content was significantly the lowest in Ziziphus (17.16%) and the highest (19.41%) in Citrus. Specific gravity was similar in all the floral honeys. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content was significantly the lowest in Ziziphus honey (25.14 mg kg^-1) and the highest in Behkar (38.20 mg kg^-1). pH of the Ziziphus honey (6.28) was significantly different from rest of the floral honeys while all other samples of floral honeys were statistically similar. Sucrose content was minimum in Ziziphus (1.76%) and maximum in Behkar (7.94%) while the sucrose contents in Acacia, Trifolium and Citrus had non significant difference. These chemical properties from different sources of the honeys are discussed in relation with health in the concluding remarks.