Melissopalynological and Physicochemical Analysis of Honey Samples from Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria

Background and Objective: The lack of adequate information on parameters that characterize locally produced and marketed honey brands is a problem that needs to be addressed. This is particularly important in providing insight into the quality and commercial value of honey. Materials and Methods: To achieve this aim, honey samples were collected from four apiaries in Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria. Standard routine palynological procedures (pollen analysis-acetolysis and microscopy) were adopted for the quantification and qualification of pollen types while the AOAC methods were used for the determination of physico-chemical parameters. Results: Honey was from unifloral and bifloral sources. Total pollen count (in 10 µL) ranged from 57 to 1453. Twenty-two palynomorph types (21 pollen and 1 spore) from 15 families were recovered. Frequently encountered pollen types included Elaeis guineensis, Blighia sapida, Oldenlandia corymbosa, Talinum triangulare, Phyllantus sp., Jatropha sp., Cardiospermum halicacabum, Solanaceae. The range for physicochemical parameters was pH, 2.78-3.22, specific gravity, 1.39-1.41, free acidity (mEq kg‾¹), 18.10-37.95, HMF (mg kg‾¹), 12.44-32.61, refractive index, 1.42-1.45, electrical conductivity (mЅ cm‾¹), 0.49-1.08, total solid (%), 81.44-89.39, total sugar (%), 76.10-82.29 and antioxidant activity (µg mL‾¹), 307.09-974.28. Nutritional parameters were within codex limits and pollen content indicated foraging from the cultivated area and degraded and human-impacted open forests. There were significant differences in the nutritional content of honey samples from the same vegetation belt. Conclusion: Despite the level of low pollen content, important biomarkers were recovered and the honey exhibited good quality and purity concerning their physicochemical properties. Although the pollen types did not reflect any major vegetation belt, they provided vital information on the impact of humans on the vegetation of the area where honey samples were collected.