ABSTRACT

Investigations were carried out on mellisopalynological analysis of honey produced by West African honeybee (Apis mellifera, Adansonii latereille) in selected guinea savanna states of Nigeria. Fresh honey samples from two sites (Nassarawa state and Plateau state) in guinea savanna zone of Nigeria were analyzed for pollen spectra, physico-chemical parameters, composition (abundance of pollen), phyto-chemical composition and microbial activities through the zone of inhibition (ZOI).  The result showed that pollen grains of myrtaceae and syzygium recorded the most abundant of 40.06 pollen grains in honey samples collected from Nassarawa state and 16.55 in Plateau state. 12 pollen grains of different plant species were identified in Nassarawa which are P. biglobosa, Dicranolepsis usambarica, Ceiba pentandra, Bombax buonopozense, Hygrophylia spp,Grewia spp, Azadirachta indica, Combretaceae/melastomataceae, Vernonia spp, Parkia bicolor, Ludwigia repens and Peltophorum pterocarpum. Ten pollen grains and two fungal spores were identified which are Syzygium guiniense, Eucalyptus spp, Asteraceae, Khaya senegalensis, Lactuca spp, Poaceae, Khaya spp, Diospyros spp, Mangifera indica, Sida acuta, Fungal spore and Sporaschisma spp were identified in Plateau while eight pollen grains of different families identified in the two study sites which includes Syzygium guiniense, Eucalyptus spp, Asteraceae, Parkia biglobosa, Dicranolepsis usambarica, Ceiba pentandra, P. biglobosa and Acanthaceae. Among the examined physico-chemical parameters, viscosity showed the highest mean value of 18.43 in Nassarawa state and 16.02 in Plateau state and Density with the lowest mean value of 1.41 in Nassarawa state and 1.41 in Plateau state. Colour intensity of 417.69 and 408.93 were recorded in the two study sites which indicated that the honey samples are dark amber in colour according to USDA, (1985). The moisture content of Honey sample ranged between 17.80-19.85 and 19.95-19.85 in the two states. The pH range (3.92-4.15  and 3.07-3.88) obtained in this study showed that all honey samples from the two states were acidic. Ash content of 0.28-0.34 for Nassarawa state and 0.34-0.37 for Plateau State was recorded. Crude protein of 0.24-0.32 and 0.21-0.37 was also recorded in the study sites. The macro nutrients observed includes Calcium, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, magnesium and Potassium where potassium had the highest value of 54.92 and 58.90 while nitrogen had the least mean value of 0.064 and 0.074 in the two states. The metals in the honey samples were present in small amounts. The range percentage Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose and TSS from the study was 21.39-25.28%, 32.61-2.79%, 2.32-2.79% and 62.09-63.43% for Nassarawa and 19.17-23.29% 28.88-31.39%, 2.30-2.79% and 62.09-65.81% for Plateau state. The result revealed that both honey samples contained vitamin B1, B2, B3, E, and B9. The result also revealed that all the bacteria and fungi species (Pseudomonas aeruginos,Escherichea coli, and Salmonella spp.) and (Rhizopus, Penecillium citrinum and Aspergillus niger) investigated were sensitive to the honey samples at all concentration levels and the positive control gave the highest zone of inhibition.