Properties of honey from Tetragonisca angustula fiebrigi and Plebeia wittmanni of Argentina

SGARIGLIA, M. A.; VATTUONE, M. A.; SAMPIETRO VATTUONE, M. M.; SOBERÓN, J. R.; SAMPIETRO, D. A.

APIDOLOGIE

EDP SCIENCES S A

Lugar: Les Ulis - Essonne - France (Francia); Año: 2010 vol. 41 p. 667 - 675

0044-8435

The composition of honey samples of Plebeia wittmanni (n = 10) and Tetragonisca angustula fiebrigi (n = 12) was analysed. The colours of all collected honeys were amber to dark amber and the pH varied. Moisture was lower than reported for other stingless bee honeys. Conductivity and ash content of P. wittmanni honey were higher than for T. angustula fiebrigi. Acidity of P. wittmanni honey was the highest ever mentioned for all other Plebeia species. Total sugars and sucrose were higher in T. angustula fiebrigi than in P. wittmanni honey. T. angustula fiebrigi honey showed the highest sucrose content ever mentioned and was rich in oligosaccharides. Both honeys split off sucrose, á-glucosides, trehalose, and amylose. The strongest hydrolytic activity was on sucrose, with high activity for T. angustula fiebrigi honey. Raffinose was also hydrolyzed. The honey of both bees inhibited bacterial growth. These properties support, at least in part, the medicinal use of the stingless bee honey by native people.