A comprehensive chemical analysis of New Zealand honeydew honey. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jonathan Chessum, Keegan; Chen, Tony; Hamid, Nazimah; Kam, Rothman
• Is Part Of: Food research international. Volume 157(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: New Zealand honeydew honey -- Mineral profile -- Free amino acids -- Sugar profile -- Phenolic profile; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Canada -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; Food-Processing Industry -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Canada -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Food industry and trade; Canada; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111436
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-9969

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Comprehensively profiled the chemical composition of New Zealand honeydew honey. First study to produce a quantitative amino acid profile for New Zealand honeydew honey. First study to quantify the flavonoid sakuranetin in any variety of honeydew honey. Antioxidant activity of New Zealand honeydew honey was compared to Manuka honey. Abstract: Demand for honeydew honey (HDH) is growing, both from consumers and the food industry, due to its potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, information on the chemical profile of HDH remains scant, particularly on New Zealand honeydew honey (NZHDH). This paper aims to provide a comprehensive chemical analysis of NZHDH produced from honeybees, which feed on nectar exuded by the scale insect Ultracoelostoma assimile . This insect feeds on most species of the Southern Beech ( Nothofagus spp.). The proximate composition, mineral profile, sugar profile, phenolic profile, amino acid profile, and antioxidant activity of NZHDH was determined and compared to results for HDH and other varieties of honey previously reported in literature. It was determined that the antioxidant activity of NZHDH is comparable to several studies on Manuka honey, which is widely considered as the "gold standard" for its antioxidant activity. This demonstrated that NZHDH indeed had excellent antioxidant properties. This study was the first time that a quantitative amino acid profile has been produced for NZHDH. The major amino acids were proline, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, L-alaine, and L-phenylalanine. The major phenolic compounds were pinocembrin, abscisic acid, and pinobanksin. Of the phenolic compounds quantified in this study, only p-hydroxybenzoic acid has previously been quantified in NZHDH.