The Identification of specifics and characteristic of Iraqi Kurdistan honey based on International Biochemical Standards

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NAJAT ZAID MOHAMMAD, KAMARAN ABDOULRAHMAN, ABDULKARIM Y. KARIM

Abstract

Honey is a high-value natural product that has both nutritional and medicinal benefits. This research reveals the quality of honey in Iraqi Kurdistan depending on international standards. Over 200 samples of honey were collected over the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. The samples were subjected to several tests and parameters such as (acidity, pH, Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), Moisture content, total sugar with sucrose, fructose and glucose, electrical conductivity (EC) and The activity of diastase enzyme). The results showed that acidity and pH were within the normal range from (10-50 meq.kg-1), and (3.5-4.5) respectively, except a sample showed pH 7. Hydroxymethylfurfural varied from (0-40 mg.kg-1), the percentage of Moisture content was between (12-20/100gm), and the total sugar was found between (%70 - %84) of which total sucrose was less than 5% while glucose and fructose ranged between (18.1-32 and 34-50) respectively. Electrical conductivity was between (1.59-10.63 mS.cm-1). The diastase enzyme activity examined, which is considered one of the most important biochemical parameters for evaluating natural honey, diastase enzyme activity varied from (10 to over 59) in some types of honey, comparatively, The level of enzyme activity in these honey is extremely rare around the world, which reflect the high quality and authenticity of honey in this region. The last parameter to consider is the proline content, which is an important indicator of honey quality and ripeness. Its value ranged from (476-1730 mg/kg), with a mean of 1250 mg/kg. There was a positive correlation between diastase activity and honey's electrical conductance (P=0.0001), but a negative correlation with honey's with HMF (P=0.0032). Based on these relations, it could be reliant on diastase activity and conductance to detect the high quality of honey paired to low HMF values to indicate honey freshness. This study concluded that honey from the Iraqi's Kurdistan region could be classified as high quality according to international standards based on biochemical properties, enzyme diastase activity, electrical conductivity and proline content.

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