TY - JOUR AU - Bugeja Douglas, Adrian AU - Nešović, Milica AU - Šikoparija, Branko AU - Radišić , Predrag AU - Tosti, Tomislav AU - Trifković, Jelena AU - Russi, Luigi AU - Attard, Everaldo AU - Tešić, Živoslav AU - Gašić, Uroš PY - 2022/07/22 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Melissopalynology analysis, determination of physicochemical parameters, sugars and phenolics in Maltese honey collected in different seasons: Scientific paper JF - Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society JA - J. Serb. Chem. Soc. VL - 87 IS - 9 SE - Biochemistry & Biotechnology DO - 10.2298/JSC211214033B UR - https://shd-pub.org.rs/index.php/JSCS/article/view/11481 SP - 983-995 AB - <p>Malta, a country renowned for its honey, has not been extensively mentioned in studies based on honey. In addition to many parameters, the col­lection period affects honey quality, precisely due to the different floral com­position that exists during a certain season. Therefore, the significance of this study refers to the provision of data on honey from Malta collected during the autumn, spring, and summer seasons. Melissopalynological analysis, deter­mi­nation of physicochemical parameters, and the use of analytical chromato­graphic methods enabled detailed analysis of this honey. Principal component analysis (PCA) provided the differentiation of Maltese honey depending on the harvest season. <em>Lotus</em> pollen, followed by <em>Eucalyptus</em>, predominated in all honey samples. Characteristic compounds for summer honey were pinocem­brin, galangin, kaempferol, chrysin, <em>p</em>-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid and maltotriose, while quercetin 3-<em>O</em>-galactoside, ferulic acid, ellagic acid, proto­catechuic acid, luteolin 7-<em>O</em>-glucoside and melibiose were specific for autumn honey. A higher amount of <em>p</em>-coumaric acid, genistein, catechin, as well as the content of many sugars were found in spring samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scientific work dealing with a detailed chemical analysis of Mal­tese honey.</p> ER -