Perfil físico-químico e de qualidade de méis de mesorregiões do estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil)

Abstract

Honey is a natural and nutritious food with a high content of carbohydrates and water, also containing smaller amounts of various organic acids, enzymes, vitamins, hormones, flavonoids, proteins, amino compounds and other organic and inorganic elements. Phenolic compounds and carotenoids, even in low concentration, confer anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and antimicrobial effect to the product, increasing the immunity and other physiological activities of the organism. The content and diversity of the constituents of honey are dependent on the regional conditions of the area foraged by the bees. The objective of this work was to determine the chemical physical profile, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of honey from mesoregions in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Twenty one samples from different producers were analyzed of the Southwest and Southeast Rio-Grandense, as regards ash content, pH, total acidity, moisture, total soluble solids, color, electrical conductivity and sugars, through official methodologies; besides the evaluations of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids and antioxidant activity, by spectrophotometry. For most of the samples, the physical and chemical parameters determined were within the Brazilian and International standards. The contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids of the samples evaluated in this study reaffirm the quality of the honey. The analysis of main components allowed to group samples according to their geographical origin, in two large groups, using only six parameters. Even though the flora and climatic conditions of the geographical area studied are similar, this work demonstrates that should be possible to classify honey by geographical origin, which would contributes to the knowledge of the physical chemical traceability of this product.