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The composition of honey is mostly determined by the species-specific characteristics of flowering plants, which is reflected in the significant deviations in composition of honey varieties. The high-quality acacia honey is assessed based on both physical-chemical parameters and melissopalynology. The appearance of rape pollen in acacia honey makes the acacia honey be sorted into the multifloral honey category. Over carrying out melissopalynology, the149 samples of various honeys (acacia, rape and multifloral) have also been analysed by using physical-chemical and elemental analysis. Multivariate data analysis revealed that multifloral honey is much closer to acacia honey than to rape honey, as it can be observed from the examined unique parameters. By the PCA (Principal Component Analysis) analysis based on united set of physico-chemical and melissopalynology results the acacia and rape honey samples are entirely separated for each other, while multifloral honey samples are very close to acacia honey group and partially overlap with it. On ignoring the pollen analysis and based on the rest of the results, the multifloral honey category is almost indistinguishable from the declared and verified acacia honey category.

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Microwave-induced combustion (MIC) was proposed in this study for honey decomposition aiming for As, Cd, Hg, and Pb determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Sample mass (up to 1.0 g), absorbing solution (0.5 to 14.4 mol L-1 HNO3, and H2O), heating program, and combustion aids were evaluated. The Eurachem guidelines were used for method validation. The proposed method enabled combustion of a high sample mass (0.8 g of honey, with 0.4 g of microcrystalline cellulose and 100 µL of 6 mol L-1 NH4NO3) using 6 mL of an absorbing solution consisting of 1 mol L-1 HNO3, which resulted in low residual carbon in solution (< 25 mg L-1). Honey samples from different geographical origins were analyzed. Results showed no significant difference in comparison to other two microwave decomposition methods, based on microwave-assisted wet digestion with single reaction chamber (MAWD-SRC) and microwave-assisted wet digestion (MAWD). Standard addition experiments resulted in recoveries higher than 98%. The limits of detection ranged from 1.10 (As) to 4.60 ng g-1 (Pb). In addition to using only diluted reagents and resulting in digests virtually free of interferences, the proposed method was faster (< 30 min) than most of those presented in the literature.

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Honey, recognized for its diverse flavors and nutritional benefits, confronts challenges in maintaining authenticity and quality due to factors like adulteration and mislabelling. This review undertakes a comprehensive exploration of the utility of Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a non-destructive analytical method for concurrently evaluating both honey quantity and authenticity. The primary purpose of this investigation is to delve into the various applications of NIR spectroscopy in honey analysis, with a specific focus on its capability to identify and quantify significant quality parameters such as sugar content, moisture levels, 5-HMF, and proline content. Results from the study underscore the effectiveness of NIR spectroscopy, especially when integrated with advanced chemometrics models. This combination not only facilitates quantification of diverse quality parameters but also enhances the classification of honey based on geographical and botanical origin. The technology emerges as a potent tool for detecting adulteration, addressing critical challenges in preserving the authenticity and quality of honey products. The impact of this critical analysis extends to shedding light on the current state, challenges, and future prospects of applying NIR spectroscopy in the honey industry. This analysis outlines the current challenges and future prospects of NIR spectroscopy in the honey industry. Emphasizing its potential to improve consumer confidence and food safety, the research has broader implications for authenticity and quality assurance in honey. Integrating NIR spectroscopy into industry practices could establish stronger quality control measures, benefiting both producers and consumers globally.

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The targeted quantitative NMR (qNMR) approach is a powerful analytical tool, which can be applied to classify and/or determine the authenticity of honey samples. In our study, this technique was used to determine the chemical profiles of different types of Polish honey samples, featured by variable contents of main sugars, free amino acids, and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on concentrations of selected compounds to determine significant differences in their levels between all types of honey. For pattern recognition, principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted and good separations between all honey samples were obtained. The results of present studies allow the differentiation of honey samples based on the content of sucrose, glucose, and fructose, as well as amino acids such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, proline, and alanine. Our results indicated that the combination of qNMR with chemometric analysis may serve as a supplementary tool in specifying honeys.

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Honey is the oldest and nowadays widely used natural sweetener for food worldwide. Its composition is associated with its botanical and geographical origin and honey is often mislabeled and has a high potential for food fraud. Thus, quick easy and sensitive analyses are required. For the first time, we developed and applied an automated, fast, sensitive and robust, in-tube extraction dynamic headspace in-tube extraction-dynamic headspace (ITEX-DHS) method for a variety of Honey containing VOCs in connection with GC-MS. Another advantage of ITEX is, that it is a green analytical solventless method. The method provides very low method detection limits (MDL) from 0.8 to 47 ng g-1 for VOCs in honey samples as well as very good repeatabilities with averages below 9 % RSD. Recoveries are between 83 and 100 %. Only octanal possess a repeatability 13 % and a recovery of 62 % due to its high polarity. 38 honey samples were measured after method validation. Four acacia honeys (A), six forest honeys (F) and 22 blossom honeys (B). The type of six honeys was not known (U) but could be predicted with the help of a linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The LDA was carried out with the three groups (A, B, F) leading to a proportion of correct predictions of 90.6 %. With the help of a scatterplot, two of the unknown samples were classified as forest honeys and four of them as blossom honeys.

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An ultrasensitive and rapid fluorescent immunoassay based on a broad-spectrum monoclonal antibody (mAb) was developed to detect pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in honey samples. First, Discovery Studio software was used to analyze and predict the target hapten, and retrorsine (RTS) was selected to react with succinic anhydride (HS) for hapten synthesization. A sensitive and broad-spectrum monoclonal antibody (mAb 13E1) was obtained for nine PAs. Then, fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were conjugated with mAb as a label probe and used in establishing a qualitative and quantitative lateral flow immunoassay (AuNCs-LFIA) for the determination of four PAs (retrorsine, platyphylline, senecionine, integerrimine) in honey within 14 min. The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.083 µg/kg. The recovery in spiked honey samples were 87.98-119.57%, with coefficients of variation of ≤ 11.5%. A total of 45 commercial import honey samples from nine different countries were tested through AuNCs-LFIA and UPLC-MS/MS method, and satisfactory consistency (R2 = 0.995) was obtained. The rates of positive samples were 55.56% (25/45), and the average concentrations of four PAs were 3.24-46.47 µg/kg. This ultrasensitive multi-PA method provides an alternative analytical tool for evaluating the human risk posed by the consumption of PA-contaminated honey.

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Honey is a nutritious substance produced by bees. Its quality and nutritional value is of great importance for consumers. Keeping this in view physicochemical and minerals determination as quality parameters of fresh floral Pakistani honeys produced by A. mellifera and branded honeys was conducted. The results of fresh honey indicated average means of Color as 48.78 mmPfund, pH 4.9, Total acidity 37.14 meq/kg, Moisture content 18.62%, Electrical conductivity 0.23 mS/cm, Ash content 0.49%, HMF content 30.85 mg/kg, Proline 365.84 mg/kg, Diastase activity 34.39(DN) and Invertase activity was 68.61(IN) comparable to honey standards. Natural honey were rich in k+ (408.46 ppm) and Na+ (405 ppm). Although Ca+ was very low. Whereas, Co, Mn and Ba concentrations exceed the 1 ppm. However, Pb, Cr, and Mo were unnoticeable. Similarly, Color, pH, MC, EC, T. Acidity, HMF, Proline, Ash content, Diastase and Invertase activity of branded honey samples average means found were 42.5 mmPfund, 5.05, 20.5%, 0.18 mS/cm, 15.34 meq/kg, 36.5 mg/kg, 181.6 mg/kg, 1.11%, 7.90(DN) and 36.97(IN) respectively. The findings showed that fresh honey samples were good and of consumable quality as per honey standards than branded honey. Higher HMF content and lower enzymatic activity in branded honey sample than the Codex standards revealed its either long or improper storage.

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This work demonstrates the feasibility of ultra-trace determination of halogens in biological samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after decomposition by microwave-induced combustion (MIC). The conventional MIC method was improved to allow the combustion of samples with mass higher than that used in previous works in order to achieve better limits of detection (LODs). The applicability of the proposed method for ultra-trace determination of bromine and iodine in organic samples was demonstrated here using honey. It was possible to decompose up to 1000 mg of honey using microcrystalline cellulose as a combustion aid and polyethylene film for sample wrapping. After combustion, analytes were absorbed using 50 mmol L(-1) NH4OH and recoveries for Br and I were between 99 and 104 %, and relative standard deviations were lower than 5 %. Microwave-assisted alkaline dissolution (MA-AD) was also evaluated for honey sample preparation using NH4OH or tetramethylammonium hydroxide solutions. However, the LODs for the MA-AD method were unsuitable because the high carbon content in digests required a dilution step prior to the analysis by ICP-MS. The LODs obtained by MIC were improved from 1143 to 34 ng g(-1) for Br and from 571 to 6.0 ng g(-1) for I, when compared to the MA-AD method. Furthermore, it was possible to decompose up to eight samples simultaneously in 30 min (including the cooling step) with very low reagent consumption and consequently lower generation of effluents, making MIC method well suited for routine ultra-trace determination of Br and I in honey. Graphical Abstract A high mass of honey was efficiently digested by MIC for subsequent Br and I determination by ICP-MS.

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Tetracycline (TC) is widely used for prevention and control of animal diseases for its broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and low cost, but its abuse can seriously affect human health and may result in trade loss. Thus there is an imperative need to develop high-performing analytical technique for TC detection. In this study, we developed a biosensor based on an indirect competitive enzyme-linked aptamer assay (ic-ELAA). A 76mer single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamer, selected by Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), was applied for the recognition and detection of TC in honey. The limit of detection was 9.6×10(-3) ng/mL with a linear working range from 0.01 to 100 ng/mL toward TC in honey, and a mean recovery rate of 93.23% in TC-spiked honey was obtained. This aptasensor can be applied to detect TC residue in food with high sensitivity and simplicity, and it is prospective to develop useful ELAA Kits for TC determination in food.

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