Physicochemical and Palynological Characterization of the Onobrychis Miller (Fabaceae) Honey

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to contribute toward characterizing the general properties of theOnobrychis Miller (sainfoin) honey.We analyzed 21 samples of Onobrychis honeys, which werecollected in 2013, from Northeast Anatolia according to their microscopic and physicochemicalfeatures (fructose/glucose (F/G) ratio, 5-(hydroxymethyl) furan-2-carbaldehyde (HMF) value,and volatile compounds). The relationships were examined between these variables withstatistical methods such as principal component, regression, and correlation analyses. Statisticalanalyses revealed certain correlation patterns between several parameters. Onobrychis radiata(Desf.) M. Bieb., O. tournefortii (Willd.) Desv., O. oxyodonta Boiss. and Onobrychis spp. pollenswere identified.TPN-10 ranged from 6532 to 481157 while the HMF values were between 0.1–7.5 mg/kg and F/G ratios were between 0.8–1.3. Alcohols, aldehydes, aliphatic acids and theiresters, carboxylic acids and their esters, hydrocarbons, flavonoids, ketones, sugars and vitaminswere identified in the honey samples within ranges of 0–11.95%, 0–16.76%, 0–24.72%, 0–1.86%,0–14.71%, 2.74–7.09%, 0–27.02%, 5.12–51.39%, and 0–21.36%, respectively.Although it wasnot significant, a positive correlation between flavonoids and Onobrychis pollen number wascalculated via correlation analysis. There was no meaningful correlation between Onobrychispollen number and other parameters. Although a negative trend between flavonoids and sugarswas observed, it was not significant. F/G ratio was found to be positively correlated with sugars,HMF, and TPN-10 of which the latter two parameters had significant values. Furthermore, asignificant positive correlation between TPN-10 and HMF was also detected.