Physico-chemical characteristics of Apis dorsata, A. cerana and A. mellifera honey from Chitwan district, central Nepal

Honey samples from Apis dorsata, A. cerana and A. mellifera were collected by cutting a piece of honey comb directly from the colonies on the same day and from the same floristic region of Chitwan district, central Nepal. Phy sico-chemical analysis of the honey samples was performed. The values obtai ned for moisture content, electrical conductivity (EC), invertase, and prol ine content were significantly different between all the honey groups. The analytical values for Apis dorsata (n = 28), A. cerana (n = 26), and A. mel lifera (t = 27) respectively were: 21.5, 20.1 and 17.1 moisture content (g/ 100 g honey); 0.96, 0.65 and 0.31 EC (mS/cm), 373.4, 218.2 and 110.9 invert ase (Siegenthaler U/kg), and 875.8, 323.0 and 610.2 proline (mg/kg). There were no significant differences between the honey types in pH, glucose oxid ase, and the amount of glucose. However, the amount of fructose was signifi cantly higher in A. dorsata and A. cerana than in A. mellifera honeys. Simi larly, the amount of oligosaccharide L-2 was significantly higher and sucro se was significantly lower in A. dorsata honeys than in A. cerana and A. me llifera honeys.