Rapid authentication of stingless bees (Heterotrigona itama) honey by UV spectroscopy and hierarchical cluster analysis

Abstract

The price of stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) honey is almost twice higher than the one produced by a non-stingless bee (Apis mellifera) due to its limited production and high content of polyphenol and flavonoids compounds. However, in the market, the authentication of stingless bees and non-stingless bees honey becomes difficult due to the similarity in the color of honey and its sugar content. In this research, we propose a simple analytical approach by combining ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for discrimination between stingless and non-stingless bee honey. Fifty samples of monofloral stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) honey and non-stingless bee (Apis mellifera) honey from Acacia mangium was used. The samples were diluted with a distilled water at a proportion of 1:30 (volume/volume). The spectral data were acquired in the range of 190-1100 nm using a benchtop UV-Vis spectrometer with fast scanning mode. The HCA was applied for selected preprocessed spectral data in the range of 230-400 nm. The result shows that HCA could be effective to discriminate between stingless and non-stingless bee honey. Shortly, it is expected to realize the simple and quick analytical method to authenticate stingless bee honey based on UV spectroscopy and the HCA method.