Sains Malaysiana 48(8)(2019): 1635–1642

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4808-09

Chemical Analysis on the Honey of Heterotrigona itama and Tetrigona binghami from Sarawak, Malaysia

(Analisis Kimia pada Madu Heterotrigona itama dan Tetrigona binghami dari Sarawak, Malaysia)

PEARLY WONG, HII SIEW LING*, KOH CHEN CHUNG, THOMAS MOH SHAN YAU & SUZY RINI ANAK GINDI

School of Engineering and Technology, University College of Technology Sarawak, No. 1, Jalan Universiti, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak Bumi Kenyalang, Malaysia

Received: 25 October 2018/Accepted: 23 May 2019

ABSTRACT

This study aims to compare the chemical composition of honey samples produced by Heterotrigona itama and Tetrigona binghami which originated from Sarawak, Malaysia. One hundred and six (106) honey samples were collected from local bee farms and analysed in terms of their chemical profiles. The chemical analysis conducted includes physicochemical composition such as moisture, total phenolic content, sugar, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), pH and organic acids and proximate analysis which included ash, protein, carbohydrates and energy. Independent T-test was used as a statistical tool to investigate the significant difference between the composition of both honey samples. The results showed that honey samples of Heterotrigona itama and Tetrigona binghami possessed significant difference (p<0.05) in moisture, total phenolic content, fructose, glucose, pH, protein, gluconic acid, acetic acid, ash, carbohydrates and energy. The honey samples of Heterotrigona itama exhibited significantly higher fructose and glucose at the average of 22.00 ± 3.48 g/ 100 g and 23.45 ± 3.23 g/100 g, respectively. Besides, the honey samples also possessed higher pH value, gluconic acid, ash, carbohydrates and energy. Meanwhile, Tetrigona binghami honey samples possessed significantly (p< 0.05) higher moisture content, total phenolic content, protein and acetic acid compared to the Heterotrigona itama’s honey samples. To conclude, the geographical and floral origins of honey are the two important quality parameters which fundamentally affect the physical-chemical properties as well as biological activities of honey samples.

Keywords: Heterotrigona itama; Sarawak; species; stingless bee honey; Tetrigona binghami

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk membandingkan komposisi kimia sampel madu yang dihasilkan oleh Heterotrigona itama dan Tetrigona binghami yang berasal dari Sarawak, Malaysia. Seratus enam (106) sampel madu diambil dari ladang lebah tempatan dan dianalisis daripada segi profil kimia mereka. Analisis kimia dijalankan termasuk komposisi fizikokimia seperti kelembapan, jumlah kandungan fenolik, gula, 5-hidroksimetilfurfural (5-HMF), pH dan asid organik dan analisis proksimat termasuk abu, protein, karbohidrat dan tenaga. Ujian-T bebas digunakan sebagai alat statistik untuk mengkaji perbezaan yang ketara antara komposisi kedua-dua sampel madu. Hasil menunjukkan bahawa sampel madu Heterotrigona itama dan Tetrigona binghami mempunyai perbezaan yang signifikan (p<0.05) daripada segi kelembapan, jumlah kandungan fenolik, fruktosa, glukosa, pH, protein, asid glukonik, asid asetik, abu, karbohidrat dan tenaga. Sampel madu Heterotrigona itama menunjukkan fruktosa dan glukosa yang lebih tinggi masing-masing pada purata 22.00 ± 3.48 g/100 g dan 23.45 ± 3.23 g/100 g. Selain itu, sampel madu kajian juga memiliki nilai pH lebih tinggi, asid glukonik, abu, karbohidrat dan tenaga. Sementara itu, sampel madu Tetrigona binghami mempunyai kandungan lembapan yang tinggi (p<0.05) secara signifikan, jumlah kandungan fenolik, protein dan asid asetik berbanding sampel madu Heterotrigona itama. Sebagai kesimpulan, asal-usul geografi dan bunga madu adalah dua parameter penting yang pada dasarnya mempengaruhi sifat fizikal-kimia serta aktiviti biologi sampel madu.

Kata kunci: Heterotrigona itama; madu lebah tiada sengat; Sarawak; spesies; Tetrigona binghami

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*Corresponding author; email: hiisl@ucts.edu.my