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Differentiation of Greek Thyme Honeys According to Geographical Origin Based on the Combination of Phenolic Compounds and Conventional Quality Parameters Using Chemometrics

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to differentiate Greek thyme honeys according to geographical origin, based on phenolic compound content and conventional physicochemical parameters using MANOVA and Linear Discriminant Analysis. Thirty-five thyme honey samples were collected during the harvesting period 2011 from four different regions in Greece (Irakleio, Hania, Kefalonia and Lakonia) known to produce thyme honey of good quality. The analysis of phenolic compounds (quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, chrysin, and syringic acid) was performed by high pressure liquid chromatography. Conventional quality parameter analysis included the determination of the following: pH, free, lactonic and total acidity, electrical conductivity, moisture, ash, as well as lactonic/free acidity ratio and colour parameters L*, a*, b*. Using five phenolic compounds and 11 conventional quality parameters, thyme honey samples were satisfactorily classified (91.2 % correct prediction) according to geographical origin.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Attiki honey S.A, Athens, Greece, Dr. Sofia Karabournioti and to local beekeepers from Lakonia, for the donation of honey samples. We thank associate professor K.A. Riganakos for the donation of pure syringic acid. Excellent technical assistance of Ms. Evangelia Halatsi is also greatly acknowledged.

Conflict of Interest

Ioannis Karabagias declares that he has no conflict of interest. Maria Vavoura declares that she has no conflict of interest. Anastasia Badeka declares that she has no conflict of interest. Stavros Kontakos declares that he has no conflict of interest. Michael Kontominas declares that he has no conflict of interest. This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece

    Ioannis K. Karabagias, Maria V. Vavoura, Anastasia Badeka & Michael G. Kontominas

  2. Department of Social Administration and Political Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, 69100, Greece

    Stavros Kontakos

  3. Department of Chemistry, American University in Cairo, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt

    Michael G. Kontominas

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  1. Ioannis K. Karabagias
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  2. Maria V. Vavoura
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  3. Anastasia Badeka
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  4. Stavros Kontakos
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  5. Michael G. Kontominas
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Correspondence to Michael G. Kontominas.

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Karabagias, I.K., Vavoura, M.V., Badeka, A. et al. Differentiation of Greek Thyme Honeys According to Geographical Origin Based on the Combination of Phenolic Compounds and Conventional Quality Parameters Using Chemometrics. Food Anal. Methods 7, 2113–2121 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-014-9851-5

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