Unité de Recherche en Biochimie, Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Département de Biologie, Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Bukavu, ISP, Bukavu, RD Congo
Honey is a very complex biological compound of great diversity, giving it a multitude of properties, both nutritionally and therapeutically. The objective of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition and the biochemicals properties of some honeys produced in Bukavu and its surroundings. To do this,12 different honey samples have been collected from a few territories of the province of South Kivu. The quantitative determination of polyphenols by Folin Ciocalteu method revealed concentrations that ranged from 43.62 ± 0.47 to 123.59 ± 1.16 mg EAG / 100g and that of flavonoids by the aluminum trichloride method revealed concentrations ranging from 2.38 ± 0.27 to 24.52 ± 0.60 mg EQ / 100g. The values, of the antioxidant activity by the ferric ion reducing power method varied between 20.89 ± 0.88 and 61.38 ± 2.91 mg EAG / 100g, evidence of an interesting antioxidant activity. The color of the samples was ranged from Transparent White to Amber.
Aim: This study aims to determine the floral origin of four samples of honey from Bukavu and its surroundings and to identify the different forms of pollen apertures.
Materials and methods: Four honey samples were collected from four production sites in Bukavu and the surrounding rural areas and were kept in the fridge at 4 ° C. The reference pollens were prepared from the anthers of plants surrounding the hive sites. The pollens from the anthers were degreased in ether and stored on slides with Kaizer gelatin-glycerin. The acetolysis method has been applied to the four samples and the identification of pollens has been done on the microscope to the 40 objective.
Results: The four honey samples are all of multi-floral origin. The Tithonia diversifolia species of the Asteraceae family is most prominent in the four honey samples with accompanying pollen. The pollens with tricolpate and tricolporate aperture are predominant.
Conclusion: The four samples of honey from Bukavu and its surroundings are all of multi-floral botanical origin, the tricolpate and tricolporate apertures are the most represented.