Resumen

VIT, Patricia et al. Knowing the Melipona favosa honey from Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcon state, Venezuela . INHRR [online]. 2012, vol.43, n.1, pp.015-019. ISSN 0798-0477.

Diverse species of stingless bees produce por honey in Venezuela,which is not included in the Venezuelan regulations of honey quality. One of these species , the Melipona favosa, lives in the Paraguaná Peninsula, where it is known as erica or maba. In order to know the honeys of M. favosa, the botanical origin was determined, their physicochemical characterization was done according to the methods of the norm COVENIN 2136-84 for honey, the nitrogen content by microkjeldahl, and biological activity by spectrophotometric and minimum inhibitory concentration methods, in six ho neys. They are light honey amber color between 18 and 79 mm Pfund. The physicochemical composition varied as follows: free acidity 12.72- 95.86 meq/kg, pH 3.53-4.44, moisture 25.40-32.00 g water/100 g, 0.01-0.16 g ash/100g, 10.48-57.55 mgN/100 g, 62.60-69.50 g reducing su gars/100 g, 0.60-5.10 g apparent sucrose/100 g, flavonoids 0.10-8.15 mgQE/100g honey, and polyphenols 51.50-217.19 mgGAE/100 g. The antibacterial ac tivity (g ho ney/100 mLculture media) was higher against E. coli (12.50-50.00) than S. aureus (50.00-50.00). The antioxidant activity was in a low to high range for honeys, with 45.91- 227.92 mmoles Trolox equivalents/100 g.

Palabras clave : physicochemical analysis; antioxidant; antibacterial; Melipona favosa; melissopalynology; honey; Venezuela.