RESUMO
The biodiversity of Ecuadorian stingless bees is almost 200 species. Traditional pot-honey harvest in Ecuador is mostly done from nests of the three genera selected here Geotrigona Moure, 1943, Melipona Illiger, 1806, and Scaptotrigona Moure, 1942. The 20 pot-honey samples collected from cerumen pots and three ethnic honeys "abeja de tierra", "bermejo", and "cushillomishki" were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative targeted 1H-NMR honey profiling, and for the Honey Authenticity Test by Interphase Emulsion (HATIE). Extensive data of targeted organic compounds (41 parameters) were identified, quantified, and described. The three honey types were compared by ANOVA. Amino acids, ethanol, hydroxymethylfurfural, aliphatic organic acids, sugars, and markers of botanical origin. The number of phases observed with the HATIE were one in Scaptotrigona and three in Geotrigona and Melipona honeys. Acetic acid (19.60 ± 1.45 g/kg) and lactic acid (24.30 ± 1.65 g/kg) were particularly high in Geotrigona honey (in contrast to 1.3 g/kg acetic acid and 1.6 g/kg lactic acid in Melipona and Scaptotrigona), and with the lowest fructose + glucose (18.39 ± 1.68) g/100g honey compared to Melipona (52.87 ± 1.75) and Scaptotrigona (52.17 ± 0.60). Three local honeys were tested using PCA (Principal Component Analysis), two were assigned with a correct declared bee origin, but "bermejo" was not a Melipona and grouped with the Scaptotrigona cluster. However after HCA (Hierarchical Cluster Analysis) the three honeys were positioned in the Melipona-Scaptotrigona cluster. This research supports targeted 1H-NMR-based profiling of pot-honey metabolomics approach for multi-parameter visualization of organic compounds, as well as descriptive and pertained multivariate statistics (HCA and PCA) to discriminate the stingless bee genus in a set of Geotrigona, Melipona and Scaptotrigona honey types. The NMR characterization of Ecuadorian honey produced by stingless bees emphasizes the need for regulatory norms. A final note on stingless bee markers in pot-honey metabolites which should be screened for those that may extract phylogenetic signals from nutritional traits of honey. Scaptotrigona vitorum honey revealed biosurfactant activity in the HATIE, originating a fingerprint Honey Biosurfactant Test (HBT) for the genus in this set of pot-honeys.
RESUMO
La miel de meliponinos es reconocida popularmente en Latinoamérica por sus propiedades terapéuticas. En Guatemala, unas 13 especies son criadas artesanalmente para la obtención de miel. Debido al reciente interés en la utilización de la miel de meliponinos en Guatemala y a su comercialización, se hace necesario conocer las características fisicoquímicas y validar el uso terapéutico de la misma. En el presente trabajo se realizó una caracterización fisicoquímica y antibacteriana de la miel producida en Guatemala de nueve especies de meliponinos: Geotrigona acapulconis (Strand, 1919); Melipona beecheii Bennett, 1831; Melipona solani Cockerell, 1912; Melipona aff. yucatanica; Nannotrigona perilampoides Cresson, 1878; Plebeia sp.; Scaptotrigona mexicana Guérin, 1845; Scaptotrigona pectoralis Dalla Torre, 1896; y Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811). Los valores promedio obtenidos en 18 muestras fueron: humedad 21,55g/100g de miel; acidez 22,45meq/kg; cenizas 0,29g/100g; hidroximetilfurfural 0,23mg/kg; actividad de la diastasa 10,94DN; y pH 3,89. Se evaluó la actividad antibacteriana frente a ocho microorganismos, determinando una concentración inhibitoria mínima de 2,5 a 10% (v/v). Se realizó un análisis preliminar de tipos polínicos que permitió identificar la presencia de 21 familias vegetales visitadas por los meliponinos en Guatemala, donde la miel de T. angustula presentó la mayor diversidad. Este trabajo es el primer aporte al conocimiento sobre la composición fisicoquímica y antibacteriana de las mieles de nueve especies de meliponinos en este país.
The honey of stingless bees is popularly known in Latin America for its therapeutic properties. In Guatemala some 13 species are traditionally bred to obtain honey. Due to the recent interest and trading of meliponine honey, it is necessary to know the physicochemical properties and to validate its therapeutic use. The antimicrobial activity, the physicochemical composition and the botanical origin of the honey produced by nine species of stingless bees from Guatemala is reported. The species were Geotrigona acapulconis (Strand, 1919); Melipona beecheii Bennett, 1831; Melipona solani Cockerell, 1912; Melipona aff. yucatanica; Nannotrigona perilampoides Cresson, 1878; Plebeia sp.; Scaptotrigona mexicana Guérin, 1845; Scaptotrigona pectoralis Dalla Torre, 1896; and Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811). The average values obtained in 18 samples were: Moisture 21.55g for 100g of honey, acidity 22.45meq/100g, ash 0.29g/100g, hidroximetilfurfural 0.23mg/kg, diastase activity 10.94 N, and pH 3.89. The antibacterial activity of the honey against eight microorganisms was determined; the minimum inhibitory concentration was found to be of 2.5 to 10% (v/v). A preliminary palynological analysis permitted the identification of 21 vegetal families in the honey samples of Guatemala, among which the honey of T. angustula presented the greatest diversity. This work is the first contribution about the composition of honey from nine species of meliponini in the country.
O mel de meliponíneos é reconhecido popularmente na América Latina por suas propriedades terapêuticas. Na Guatemala, umas 13 espécies são criadas artesanalmente para a obtenção de mel. Devido ao recente interesse na utilização do mel de meliponíneos na Guatemala e a sua comercialização, se faz necessário conhecer as características físico-químicas e validar o uso terapêutico da mesma. No presente trabalho se realizou uma caracterização físico-química e antibacteriana do mel produzido na Guatemala de nove espécies de meliponíneos: Geotrigona acapulconis (Strand, 1919); Melipona beecheii Bennett, 1831; Melipona solani Cockerell, 1912; Melipona aff. yucatanica; Nannotrigona perilampoides Cresson, 1878; Plebeia sp.; Scaptotrigona mexicana Guérin, 1845; Scaptotrigona pectoralis Dalla Torre, 1896; e Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811). Os valores médios obtidos em 18 amostras foram: umidade 21,55g/100 g de mel; acidez 22,45meq/kg; cinzas 0,29g/100g; hidroximetilfurfural 0,23mg/kg; atividade da diastasa 10,94DN; y pH 3,89. Avaliou-se a atividade antibacteriana frente a oito microorganismos, determinando uma concentração inibitória mínima de 2,5 a 10% (v/v). A análise preliminar de tipos polínicos permitiu identificar a presença de 21 famílias vegetais visitadas pelos meliponíneos na Guatemala, onde o mel de T. angustula apresentou a maior diversidade. Este trabalho é o primeiro aporte ao conhecimento sobre a composição físico-química e antibacteriana do mel de noves espécies de meliponíneos neste país.
