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Bees (Apis mellifera var.
adansonii) produce honey, a naturally occurring sweet
viscid liquid, from blossom nectar and it has both medicinal
and antibacterial properties. Pollen, physical and chemical
analyses are used to ascertain floral sources, the purity of
honey, its botanical, ecological, and geographic provenance,
the main honey-producing season, and the processing
facilities that honey bees most frequently visit while
gathering pollen and nectar. Four samples of honey were
acquired from the Owo Local Government Area in Ondo State,
Nigeria, and treated to the aforementioned evaluation. Out
of thirty six(36) pollen types that originated from 25 plant
families, one (1) was identified at the family level,
twenty-six (26) at the generic level, eight (8) at the
species level, and one (1) was unidentified. The described
species come from numerous genera of trees, shrubs, grass,
and herbs. Ilale, Isuada, Ipeme, and Alaguntan each had
pollen grain counts of 61, 169, 172, and 236, respectively.
Alaguntan provided the richest sample, with two hundred and
thirty-six pollen counts. Ipeme, Isuada, and Ilale samples
were next, with one hundred and seventy-two, one hundred and
sixty-nine, and sixty-one pollen counts, respectively. In
varying amounts, the predominant pollen types include those
of Elaeis guineens is followed by Poaceae,
Ageratum conyzoides, Hymenocardia acida, Phyllanthus
sp., Tridax procumbens, Coffea spp., Talinum triangulare,
Morellia senegalensis, Solanum melongena, and Mimosa
pudica. The honey samples were all multi-floral. To
confirm the safety of the analysed samples of honey, the
investigation used pollen densities and quantities. Tests
for protein, electrical conductivity, moisture content, ash
content, pH level, and specific gravity were all part of the
characterization studies. Due to the impact on texture and
stability, which are crucial during honey extraction and
storage, all of the results for the samples were found to
meet the specifications for honey laid out by international
regulatory agencies.
Keywords: Honey, Pollen analysis, Physico-chemical
examination, multi-floral |
