PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NINE STINGLESS BEES (MELIPONINI) HONEY FROM GUATEMALA

The honey of stingless bees is popularly known in Latin America for its therapeutic properties. In Guatemala some 13 species arc, traditionally bred to obtain honeys Due to the recent interest and trading of meliponine honey, it is necessary to know the physicochemical properties and to validate its therapeutic use. The antimicrobial activity. the physicochemical composition and the botanical origin of the honey produced by nine species of stingless bees from Guatemala is reported. The species were Geotrigona acapulconis (Strand, 1919); Melipona beecheii Bennelt, 1831; Melipona solani Cockerell, 1912; Melipona aff. yucatanica; Nannotrigona perilampoides Cresson, 1878; Plebeia sp.; Scaptotrigona mexicana Guerin, 1845; Scaptotrigona pectoralis Dalla Torre, 1896; and Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811). The average values obtained in 18 samples were: Moisture 21.55g for 100g of honey, acidity 22.45meq/100g, ash 0.29g/100g, hidroximetilfurfural 0.23mg/kg, diastase activity 10.94 N, and pH 3.89. The antibacterial activity of the honey against eight microorganisms was determined; the minimum inhibitory concentration was found to be of 2.5 to 10% (v/v). A preliminary palynological analysis permitted the identification of 21 vegetal families in the honey samples of Guatemala, among which the honey of T. angustula presented the greatest diversity This work is the first contribution about the composition of honey from nine species of meliponini in the country.