PROFILES OF PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS OF APIS-MELLIFERA AND MELIPONA SPP HONEYS FROM VENEZUELA

Profiles of flavonoid compounds of Apis mellifera a and Melipona spp. honeys from Venezuela were analysed to evaluate entomological-dependen t differences. The presence of ellagic acid was a characteristic of A. mellifera honeys from Venezuela, but its presence was variable in Mel ipona spp. samples. The number of flavonoid types present in individua l samples did not exceed six and occasionally only one phenolic type w as present. The diversity of flavonoid compounds in tropical honeys fr om Venezuela was lower than that previously measured in temperate hone ys. Flavonoids such as myricetin, an unidentified chalcone and a flavo nol glycoside were only found in Melipona honeys but not in all the sa mples; therefore, they cannot be foreseen as entomological markers to differentiate between the Apis and Melipona honeys under study. A prel iminary discussion is made regarding flavonoids present in Melipona ho neys and their probable link with the putative anticataract action of stingless bee-honeys.