ABSTRACT

Honey is a sweet and viscous substance produced by honeybees (Apis mellifera and Apis dosata) and its quality varies according its origin. Three honey samples were obtained from Enugu State Southeastern Nigeria: a. honey harvested from an apiary (Sample A); b. honey obtained from a roadside vendor (Sample B) and c. Shoprite supermarket (Sample C); were assessed for physico-chemical properties in the laboratory. All the data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance according to the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software package for Windows. The result for the physico-chemical properties: pH. acidity, Specific gravity, soluble solids and total solids were 4.11, 0.93, 0.75, 70.23, and 73.56 respectively for sample A; 3.5, 1.35, 1.54, 81.2, and 82.0 respectively for sample B while 4.32, 1.24, 1.08, 75.66 and 76.37 respectively for Sample C. For proximate composition: moisture content (MC), Protein, fat, ash, fibre and Carbohydrates were 17.12%, 0.92%, 0.24%, 0.36%, 1.10%, 80.2% respectively for Sample A: 9.15%, 2.88%, 4.59%, 3.51%, 2.09%, 77.79% respectively for Sample B while 15.35%,1.79%, 0.15%, 0.28%, 1.05%, 80.53% respectively for Sample C. Total minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe) were 45.63%, 58.08% and 40.83% for sample A, sample B, and sample C respectively. The Phytochemical compositions were Phytate (0.23±0.02mg/100g), Tannin (0.32±0.02mg/100g), HCN (0.02mg/100g) for sample A; Phytate (0.36±0.03mg/100g), Tannin (0.58±0.04mg/100g),HCN (0.05a±0.01mg/100g) for sample B while Phytate (0.28±0.03mg/100g), Tannin (0.23±0.02mg/100g), HCN (0.00±0.00mg/l 00g) for sample C. There was no presence ofOxalate in the honey samples. The ANOVA results of the physico-chemical properties of the honey samples showed significant differences (p<0.05) in (a) physicalproperties (b) proximate compositions (c) minerals contents and phytochemical properties except for phytate. However, the physicochemical properties ofthe honey samples were within the acceptable international standard limits for honey. Therefore, honeys from Enugu State are of good quality. >