Enhancement of the Antioxidant Capacity of Thyme and Chestnut Honey by Addition of Bee Products.

Honey consumption and imports have increased in recent years, and it is considered by consumers to be a healthy alternative to more commonly used sweeteners. Honey contains a mixture of polyphenols and antioxidant compounds, and the botanical origin and geographical area of collection play an important role on its chemical composition. The present study investigated the physicochemical properties, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of Spanish thyme honey and chestnut honey, and their mixtures with royal jelly (2% and 10%) and propolis (2% and 10%). The analysis of the physicochemical parameters of both honey samples showed values within the established limits. Propolis showed the highest value of total phenolic content (17.21-266.83 mg GAE/100 g) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ORAC and ABTS assays; 0.63-24.10 µg eq. Tx/g, 1.61-40.82 µg eq. Tx/g and 1.89-68.54 µg eq. Tx/g, respectively), and significantly reduced ROS production in human hepatoma cells. In addition, mixtures of honey with 10% of propolis improved the results obtained with natural honey, increasing the value of total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. A significant positive correlation was observed between total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, the antioxidant capacity could be attributed to the phenolic compounds present in the samples, at least partially. In conclusion, our results indicated that thyme and chestnut honey supplemented with propolis can be an excellent natural source of antioxidants and could be incorporated as a potential food ingredient with biological properties of technological interest, added as a preservative. Moreover, these mixtures could be used as natural sweeteners enriched in antioxidants and other bioactive compounds.

Differentiation of bee pollen samples according to the betaines and other quaternary ammonium related compounds content by using a canonical discriminant analysis.

In the last years, an increase has been observed in the adulteration of bee pollen. Consequently, different tools are required to authenticate the origin of this product, such as a study of the profile and composition of a specific family of compounds. The present study investigates the potential of betaines and related compounds as markers of the apiary of origin and harvest period of 71 bee pollen samples. These were collected from four apiaries (Pistacho, Tío Natalio, Monte and Fuentelahiguera), located in the same geographical area (Guadalajara, Spain) and sampled during three consecutive harvest periods in the same year (April-May, June, July-August). They were analyzed by means of a previously developed methodology, which involved solvent extraction, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and a statistical analysis of the data (canonical discriminant analysis). Variable amounts of betaines and related compounds were found in the samples, with four of these being identified in all of them (betonicine, betaine, trigonelline and choline); betonicine was the predominant compound in a concentration range of 264 to 52384 mg/kg. It was possible to statistically assign over 50 % of the samples to the corresponding apiary of origin, the best results being obtained for the Tío Natalio apiary (75 %); this classification was even better in the case of the harvest period, as more than 75 % of the samples were correctly assigned, and in two periods (April-May and June) a 90 % rate was obtained.

Glucosinolates as Markers of the Origin and Harvesting Period for Discrimination of Bee Pollen by UPLC-MS/MS.

Bee pollen is currently one of the most commonly consumed food supplements, as it is considered to be a good source of bioactive substances and energy. It contains various health-promoting compounds, such as proteins, amino acids, lipids, as well as glucosinolates. In the present study, the glucosinolate content was determined, by means of ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass detector, in 72 bee pollen samples from four different apiaries in Guadalajara (Spain), harvested in three different periods. In addition, 11 commercial multifloral samples from different Spanish regions were also analyzed. The aim was to verify the suitability of these compounds as biomarkers of their geographical origin, and to test their potential for distinguishing the harvesting period. By means of a canonical discriminant analysis, it was possible to differentiate the apiary of origin of most of the samples, and these could also be clearly differentiated from the commercial ones, simply as a result of the glucosinolate content. In addition, it was also demonstrated for the first time that bee pollen samples were capable of being differentiated according to the time of harvesting and their glucosinolate content.

Viper's bugloss (Echium spp.) honey typing and establishing the pollen threshold for monofloral honey.

Honey samples (n = 126) from Castilla-La Mancha (Central Spain) were characterized based on their physicochemical properties and a melissopalynological analysis. The latter showed that Echium pollen type was the dominant palynomorph in most samples, representing at least 30% of the pollen in each sample. As anticipated, a relationship was observed between the proportion of this pollen and the properties of the honey. One goal of this study was to set a threshold that defines the percentage of pollen necessary for Viper's bugloss honey to be considered monofloral or multifloral. This is a mandatory requirement in light of the publication of the European Directive 2014/63/EU establishing the regulations governing the labelling and control of honey to eradicate fraud (BOE n° 147, June 2015). By analyzing how the proportions of Echium pollen type affected the physicochemical and sensory parameters of the honey, the honeys analyzed could be segregated into multifloral and monofloral honeys. The data indicates that the proportion of pollen necessary to discriminate monofloral Viper's bugloss honey lies at 70%.

Holistic screening of collapsing honey bee colonies in Spain: a case study.

BACKGROUND: Here we present a holistic screening of collapsing colonies from three professional apiaries in Spain. Colonies with typical honey bee depopulation symptoms were selected for multiple possible factors to reveal the causes of collapse. RESULTS: Omnipresent were Nosema ceranae and Lake Sinai Virus. Moderate prevalences were found for Black Queen Cell Virus and trypanosomatids, whereas Deformed Wing Virus, Aphid Lethal Paralysis Virus strain Brookings and neogregarines were rarely detected. Other viruses, Nosema apis, Acarapis woodi and Varroa destructor were not detected. Palinologic study of pollen demonstrated that all colonies were foraging on wild vegetation. Consequently, the pesticide residue analysis was negative for neonicotinoids. The genetic analysis of trypanosomatids GAPDH gene, showed that there is a large genetic distance between Crithidia mellificae ATCC30254, an authenticated cell strain since 1974, and the rest of the presumed C. mellificae sequences obtained in our study or published. This means that the latter group corresponds to a highly differentiated taxon that should be renamed accordingly. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that the drivers of colony collapse may differ between geographic regions with different environmental conditions, or with different beekeeping and agricultural practices. The role of other pathogens in colony collapse has to bee studied in future, especially trypanosomatids and neogregarines. Beside their pathological effect on honey bees, classification and taxonomy of these protozoan parasites should also be clarified.

Antioxidant, antibacterial and ACE-inhibitory activity of four monofloral honeys in relation to their chemical composition.

Different monofloral honeys from Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) have been studied in order to determine their main functional and biological properties. Thyme honey and chestnut honey possess the highest antioxidant capacity, which is due to their high vitamin C (in thyme honey) and total polyphenolic content (in chestnut honey). On the other hand, chestnut honey showed high antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, whilst others had no activity against S. aureus and showed very small activity against E. coli. Moreover it was found that the antimicrobial activity measured in chestnut honey was partly due to its lysozyme content. In addition the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was measured, and the ACE inhibition is one mechanism by which antihypertensive activity is exerted in vivo. All the types of honey showed some activity but chestnut honey had the highest ACE inhibitory activity.

Vitamin C and sugar levels as simple markers for discriminating Spanish honey sources.

UNLABELLED: In this work, 7 Spanish honeys with different botanical origins were studied. The honey origins were rosemary, chestnut, lavender, echium, thyme, multifloral, and honeydew. The chemical compounds determined were ascorbic acid (vitamin C), hydroxymethylfurfural, and major sugar contents (glucose and fructose). The physicochemical parameters, pH, conductivity, moisture, free acidity, and color, were also measured. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant in food, and the possibility to use it as discriminate parameter among different honeys was studied. The determination of vitamin C in honey samples was carried out by 2 different methods, volumetric and chromatographic comparing the results by both statistically. Vitamin C content was higher in thyme honeys than in the other types; however a wide dispersion in the values was found. Through a linear discriminant analysis (LDA), conductivity, glucose, fructose, and vitamin C content were the most important discriminant parameters. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Vitamin C content in different honey sources has been determined by a simple and rapid chromatographic method (less than 3 min) in honeys from 6 botanical origins. The results together with glucose and fructose content and some physicochemical parameters have been studied in order to discriminate the botanical origin of honeys and in the future certified their quality. A statistical LDA was applied to the data, and differentiation of honey sources was possible with very good agreement. The vitamin C content found in thymus honeys was significantly higher than in other types. This fact makes vitamin C a special marker for thymus honeys that have a higher antioxidant effect than the others giving it special properties. The identification of honey sources is essential for beekeepers in order to certify honeys for consumers.

Honeybee colony collapse due to Nosema ceranae in professional apiaries.

Honeybee colony collapse is a sanitary and ecological worldwide problem. The features of this syndrome are an unexplained disappearance of adult bees, a lack of brood attention, reduced colony strength, and heavy winter mortality without any previous evident pathological disturbances. To date there has not been a consensus about its origins. This report describes the clinical features of two professional bee-keepers affecting by this syndrome. Anamnesis, clinical examination and analyses support that the depopulation in both cases was due to the infection by Nosema ceranae (Microsporidia), an emerging pathogen of Apis mellifera. No other significant pathogens or pesticides (neonicotinoids) were detected and the bees had not been foraging in corn or sunflower crops. The treatment with fumagillin avoided the loss of surviving weak colonies. This is the first case report of honeybee colony collapse due to N. ceranae in professional apiaries in field conditions reported worldwide.

How natural infection by Nosema ceranae causes honeybee colony collapse.

In recent years, honeybees (Apis mellifera) have been strangely disappearing from their hives, and strong colonies have suddenly become weak and died. The precise aetiology underlying the disappearance of the bees remains a mystery. However, during the same period, Nosema ceranae, a microsporidium of the Asian bee Apis cerana, seems to have colonized A. mellifera, and it's now frequently detected all over the world in both healthy and weak honeybee colonies. For first time, we show that natural N. ceranae infection can cause the sudden collapse of bee colonies, establishing a direct correlation between N. ceranae infection and the death of honeybee colonies under field conditions. Signs of colony weakness were not evident until the queen could no longer replace the loss of the infected bees. The long asymptomatic incubation period can explain the absence of evident symptoms prior to colony collapse. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that healthy colonies near to an infected one can also become infected, and that N. ceranae infection can be controlled with a specific antibiotic, fumagillin. Moreover, the administration of 120 mg of fumagillin has proven to eliminate the infection, but it cannot avoid reinfection after 6 months. We provide Koch's postulates between N. ceranae infection and a syndrome with a long incubation period involving continuous death of adult bees, non-stop brood rearing by the bees and colony loss in winter or early spring despite the presence of sufficient remaining pollen and honey.