Physicochemical Characteristics of Malaysian Stingless Bee Honey from Trigona Species

ABSTRACT

The physicochemical properties of stingless bee honey are diverse according to origin of geographical orbotanical and fruit or flower season. These factors result in production of honey with different colour, pH,ash and water content although the bee species is similar. To date, the physicochemical properties ofhoney from Malaysian Trigona species are unknown. Therefore, determination of physicochemicalproperties of honey from stingless bee is crucial for Malaysian researchers in order to analyse the purity ofthe honey. Five honey samples were used for the current study. Four samples were stingless bee honeyfrom two of the most common domesticated Malaysian stingless bee species; Trigona thorasica and Trigonaitama. Meanwhile, one sample was from Tualang honey. For stingless bee honey, the values for pH,moisture content, electrical conductivity, ash content and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) were 2.79±0.04 to2.95±0.02, 28.3±0.68 to 33.7±0.51, 0.47±0.22 to 0.55±0.38, 0.132±0.03 to 0.532±0.83 and 0.080±0.16 to3.42±1.03, respectively. The colour of stingless bee honey varies based on observation or absorbanceassay. The study described the physicochemical properties derived from Malaysian bees of Trigonathorasica, Trigona itama, and Api