ABSTRACT

The effects of vegetation zones and processing methods on the bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic properties of honey were investigated in 2006 and 2007 bee farming seasons. The study aimed at comparing the physical and chemical properties of honey obtained from the rain forest, mangrove swamp forest, derived savannah, Montane vegetation and Sudan savanna; determining the effect of methods of honey processing on the medicinal value of honey; the effect of phytochemicals composition of honey from various vegetation zones, and to evaluate the effectiveness of honey samples from different vegetation zones on microbial activities. Honeycombs were collected from five vegetation zones in Nigeria and processed using three different methods namely, hand processing, floating and dripping. A 3 X S Factorial design was used for the study. Samples from the different vegetation zones were subjected to laboratory analysis. The data obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOV A) at 5% probability level of significance. Results obtained showed that honey sample from the rain forest ecology had the highest physiochemical properties. (4.30% Na'; 0.40% Ca, 0.024% P'; pH 6.8; specific gravity of 1.3899± 0.01 0.17% Ash 84% Carbohydrate (CHO) and 338.8 Kcal of Energy value) followed by Mangrove swamp forest 3.32% of Na; 0.80% Ca'; 0.16% P, pH 6.6; specific gravity 1.3822±0.01; 0.25% Ash 84% Carbohydrate (CHO) and 3.30Kcal of energy value. The least were those of the Derived savanna. The medicinal value of honey was found to be highest in honey samples processed by floating method, followed by dripping and the least was that of band pressing. Honey samples from the Montane vegetation was found to have bacteriocidal properties (able to kill) against Staphylococuss spp, Bacillus spp and Esherichia coli while honey samples from the same vegetation belt showed the highest phytochemical properties (0.96% phenol, 0.16% flavonoid and 0.4% alkaloid), which confers the highest medicinal value on the honey. This was followed by honey samples from derived savannah 0.86% phenol, 0.14% flavonoid and 0.42% alkaloid. The least comes from rainforest belt. Although honey samples from other vegetation zones were effective on microbial activities, honey from Montane vegetation should be recommended as the best honey in terms of their bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic properties to pharmaceutical companies and relevant agencies.