A novel method based on passive diffusion that reduces the moisture content of stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) honey

The price of stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) honey is almost twice higher than the one produced by a non-stingless bee (Apis mellifera) due to its limited production and high content of polyphenol and flavonoids compounds. However, in the market, the authentication of stingless bees and non-stingless bees honey becomes difficult due to the similarity in the color of honey and its sugar content. In this research, we propose a simple analytical approach by combining ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for discrimination between stingless and non-stingless bee honey. Fifty samples of monofloral stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) honey and non-stingless bee (Apis mellifera) honey from Acacia mangium was used. The samples were diluted with a distilled water at a proportion of 1:30 (volume/volume). The spectral data were acquired in the range of 190-1100 nm using a benchtop UV-Vis spectrometer with fast scanning mode. The HCA was applied for selected preprocessed spectral data in the range of 230-400 nm. The result shows that HCA could be effective to discriminate between stingless and non-stingless bee honey. Shortly, it is expected to realize the simple and quick analytical method to authenticate stingless bee honey based on UV spectroscopy and the HCA method.

Honey is a product that is often adulterated by the addition of water. Stingless bee honey naturally has a higher moisture content than that produced by the traditional Apis mellifera. In most countries, there is a lack of quality standards and methods to characterise and assure the authenticity of stingless bee honey, which demands for the development of fast methods to assess its main properties, avoiding potential fraud. Thus, this work aimed to develop a non-destructive moisture determination method for stingless bee honey based on diffuse reflectance near infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics. Thirty-two honey samples from four stingless bee species ( Melipona quadrifasciata, Melipona marginata, Melipona bicolor and Scaptotrigona bipuncata) were used to develop calibration models using partial least squares regression analyses. Results revealed intense absorption bands in C–H, O–H and C–O vibrations in the spectra of stingless bee honey. The calibration model was used to predict the moisture content in honey from an external group. The prediction of the honey’s moisture showed good correlation (r2 = 0.93) with the refraction index method and an average error of 2.14%. The statistics variables for the calibration ( R2 = 0.947, SEP = 1.005 and RPD = 4.3) revealed that this model can be used to predict the moisture from stingless bee honey and that near infrared spectroscopy is a reliable tool to be applied in quality control with rapid, simple and accurate results.

Geniotrigona thoracica (G. thoracica) stingless bee honey contained high moisture that can easily lead to fermentation process. The high moisture content of stingless bee honey could lead to unwanted fermentation and crystallization form. Hence, it will affect the quality of honey in terms of acidic taste and undesirable appearance. To make sure stingless bee honey meets the standard set by IHC, some methods have been carried out to reduce its moisture content. This study investigates the moisture reduction during storage of G. thoracica stingless bee honey in a clay pot. The G. thoracica honeys were stored in clay pot with the inner volume of 75.4cm3 and glass bottle (as control) at 25ËšC for 21 days. Physicochemical analysis of honey such as moisture content, total soluble solid, water activity, viscosity, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, colour (L*, a* and b*) and colour intensity were investigated during storage. The result obtained indicated that the honey stored in a clay pot was significantly reduced the moisture content from 28.03% to 16.51%. The water activity (aw) of honey in a clay pot was also reduced from 0.779 to 0.601. The free acidity of honey stored in a glass bottle increased significantly compared to honey stored in a clay pot, which was initially 106.7meq/kg to 146.3meq/kg and 121.7meq/kg, respectively. In conclusion, the application of clay pot as a storage medium was capable to reduce water content and preserved the quality of honey from G. thoracica.

The development of hand body care products in gel form, incorporating natural ingredients, remains an underexplored area, particularly concerning the combination of avocado (Persea americana) extract, Stingless bee (Trigona sp.) honey, and pollen in cosmetic formulations. Gel formulations are favored for their superior skin moisturizing properties and enhanced dermal absorption compared to lotions. This study aimed to evaluate the stability and moisturizing efficacy of novel hand body gel formulations containing varying ratios of P. americana extract combined with Trigona bee pollen and honey. Employing an experimental quantitative design, three distinct gel formulations were prepared with different concentrations of P. americana extract with Trigona bee pollen and honey. The stability of these formulations as skin moisturizers was assessed through a comprehensive evaluation encompassing organoleptic properties, homogeneity, potential for irritation, pH, spreadability, viscosity, and moisture content analysis using skin analysis instrumentation. The results indicated that the gel formulation designated F1, containing 2.5% P. americana extract and 7.5% honey combined with bee pollen, exhibited the highest skin moisture content, suggesting its potential as an effective moisturizing hand body gel.

One of the non-timber forest products from the animal group that is widely utilized by communities today is honey. Communities around the Acacia crassicarpa plantation forests utilize these plants as a food source for Apis mellifera bees. The honey produced generally has a high moisture content, which affects its quality. Efforts are needed to reduce the moisture content of honey using a vacuum evaporator to meet the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) for honey quality. The research method was experimental, using honey samples from Sungai Mandau Subdistrict, Siak Regency, Riau Province. Moisture content reduction was carried out using a vacuum evaporator at a temperature of 40°C for 0, 12 and 24 hours. The honey that had undergone moisture reduction was tested for quality in accordance with SNI 8664:2018. Honey that had undergone moisture reduction for 12 hours had a moisture content of 19.15%, specific gravity of 1.434, diastase enzyme activity of 11.75 DN, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content of 0.21 mg/kg, total sugar content of 75.53 °Brix, ash content of 0.162% w/w, acidity of 47.33 ml NaOH/kg, and insoluble solids of 0.57% w/w. Meanwhile, honey that had undergone moisture reduction for 24 hours had a moisture content of 17.59%, specific gravity of 1.482, diastase enzyme activity of 9.43 DN, HMF content of 0.67 mg/kg, total sugar content of 76 °Brix, ash content of 0.676% w/w, acidity of 44.43 ml NaOH/kg, and insoluble solids of 0.59% w/w.

The mango is one of the essential fruit trees for the economy of Thailand. Mango pollination relies primarily on insects. Other external forces, such as wind, are less efficient since pollen is sticky and aggregating. There is only one report from Thailand on the use of bees as mango pollinators. The study of the behavior and pollination efficiency of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and stingless bees (Tetragonula laeviceps species complex) was conducted in Nam Dokmai mango plantings in Phrao and Mae Taeng districts, Chiang Mai province, between February and March 2019. Results: Our results reveal that the honey bees commenced foraging earlier than the stingless bee. The number of flowers visited within 1 minute by honey bees was higher than that visited by stingless bees. The average numbers of honey bees and stingless bees that flew out of the hive per minute from 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the Phrao district were 4.21 1.62 and 9.88 7.63 bees/min, respectively, i.e., higher than those observed in Mae Taeng, which were 3.46 1.13 and 1.23 1.20 bees/min, respectively. The numbers of fruits per tree were significantly higher in the honey bee and stingless bee treatments (T1 and T2) than in the open pollination treatment (T3). The number of fruits between T1 and T2 treatments was not different. In the pollinator exclusion treatment (T4), no fruit was produced. Fruit size factors were not significantly different among T1, T2, and T3 treatments. Conclusions: Our results showed that insect pollination is crucial for mango production, especially with the Nam Dokmai variety in Northern Thailand. As pollinator exclusion treatment showed no fruit set, and pollinator treatment significantly increased the fruit sets compared to open access plots, a managed pollinator program would benefit the mango growers for better productivity. Both the honey bee and the stingless bee were shown to be effective as pollinators.

Introduction: Honey contains a complex matrix of different substances consisting of essential minerals, non-nutritive substances, and toxins, often due to environmental sources. The objectives of this study were i) to investigate the variation of mineral and heavy metal content in honey samples of Heterotrigona itama from different geographical origins, and ii) to evaluate the nutritional quality and safety of honey from different floral sources for human consumption. Methods: A total of 75 samples of raw H. itama honey were collected from 11 sites in Sabah, two sites in Sarawak, and two sites in Peninsular Malaysia. The mineral and heavy metal contents of honey were determined in triplicate using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: There were significant differences in the composition of essential minerals and heavy metals in the honey samples according to geographical origins (p<0.001). All honey samples tested were below the permitted maximum proportion (ML) for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) specified in the Malaysian Food Act 1983 for honey. However, all honey samples exceeded the ML for Pb set by Codex, with samples from bamboo sites having the highest levels for Pb. Conclusion: The composition of minerals and heavy metals in stingless bee honey was influenced by geographical origin. All measured Pb concentrations were above the ML value set by Codex, which raises concerns about possible toxicological risks to human health. Given the toxic nature of Pb in the environment, the measured concentrations emphasise the importance of monitoring Pb in honey from stingless bees.

Stingless bee honey (SBH) is rich in phenolic compounds and available in limited quantities. Authentication of SBH is important to protect SBH from adulteration and retain the reputation and sustainability of SBH production. In this research, we use portable LED-based fluorescence spectroscopy to generate and measure the fluorescence intensity of pure SBH and adulterated samples. The spectrometer is equipped with four UV-LED lamps (peaking at 365 nm) as an excitation source. Heterotrigona itama, a popular SBH, was used as a sample. 100 samples of pure SBH and 240 samples of adulterated SBH (levels of adulteration ranging from 10 to 60%) were prepared. Fluorescence spectral acquisition was measured for both the pure and adulterated SBH samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that a clear separation between the pure and adulterated SBH samples could be established from the first two principal components (PCs). A supervised classification based on soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) achieved an excellent classification result with 100% accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision. Principal component regression (PCR) was superior to partial least squares regression (PLSR) and multiple linear regression (MLR) methods, with a coefficient of determination in prediction (R2p) = 0.9627, root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) = 4.1579%, ratio prediction to deviation (RPD) = 5.36, and range error ratio (RER) = 14.81. The LOD and LOQ obtained were higher compared to several previous studies. However, most predicted samples were very close to the regression line, which indicates that the developed PLSR, PCR, and MLR models could be used to detect HFCS adulteration of pure SBH samples. These results showed the proposed portable LED-based fluorescence spectroscopy has a high potential to detect and quantify food adulteration in SBH, with the additional advantages of being an accurate, affordable, and fast measurement with minimum sample preparation.

There is a dearth of information on the comparative studies of the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties as well as quality standards of stingless bee honey (SBH) in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was designed to assess and compare the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH, specifically sourced from Meliponula beccarii, and produced under both wild and modern apiary conditions at two distinct geographical locations. A total of forty-six honey samples were meticulously collected from domesticated stingless bee colonies and naturally occurring wild nests at Wolmera and Cheliya districts. Pollen analysis unveiled eleven distinct bee plant species distributed across six families, with Asteraceae being the most prevalent, primarily represented by Guizotia scabra and Vernonia amygdalina. Notably, the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH collected from modern pot hives exhibited significant variances (p < .05) when compared to SBH from wild nests. Principal component analysis (PCA) delineated the differentiation of SBH sources based on both geographical location and the type of beehive. One-way ANOVA corroborated these distinctions, underscoring significantly higher levels (p < .05) of ash, electrical conductivity, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural, sucrose, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and radical scavenging activities of SBH from modern pot hives in Wolmera. Whereas, Cheliya modern pot hives recorded higher values in pH, hydroxymethylfurfural and maltose contents compared to the wild nest SBH. Further analysis through Pearson correlation highlighted a strong positive association between total phenolic content and total flavonoid content with the antioxidant capacity of SBH. These findings underscore the significance of integrating modern pot hives to enhance the quality of SBH within Ethiopia's beekeeping sector.

Com objetivo de verificar a sensibilidade à redução do teor de água e a exposição à baixa temperatura, sementes de Theobroma subincanum foram submetidas à secagem em sala com umidade relativa do ar de 55 ± 5% e temperatura de 23 ± 2ºC, durante 0;4; 8;12;16; 24 e 48 horas, o que possibilitou a obtenção dos seguintes graus de umidade: 44,7%, 39,9%, 30,0%, 20,5%, 19,7%, 15,7% e 12,3%, respectivamente. A avaliação da sensibilidade à baixa temperatura foi determinada expondo-se sementes sem secagem e previamente embaladas em recipientes de polietileno, em ambiente com temperatura entre 7 ± 1ºC, durante 0; 2; 4; 6 e 8 horas. Os testes de germinação foram conduzidos com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. O teor de água das sementes foi determinado com base em 50 repetições de sementes individuais. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que sementes de T. subincanum toleram redução no grau de umidade até nível em torno de 30,0%, sem que haja comprometimento na porcentagem de germinação. Reduções mais acentuadas provocaram diminuições na porcentagem de germinação, culminando com a perda total do poder germinativo quando o teor de água das sementes atingiu valor em torno de 12,0%. As sementes de T. subincanum apresentam sensibilidade à baixa temperatura e perdem completamente a viabilidade quando expostas à temperatura de 7ºC durante oito horas.

Although the importance of bees as the pollinators responsible for maintaining gene flow for many native and cultivated plants in ecosystems around the world is recognized, much of their biodiversity and behavior remains to be discovered. Stingless bees are considered key pollinators for several plant species in tropical and subtropical ecosystems and they also provide pollination services for economically important agricultural crops. Many countries are using the honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, Hymenoptera: Apidae) as a surrogate to evaluate the risk of pesticides to all species of bees. However, there is uncertainty regarding the extent to which honey bees can serve as surrogates for non-Apis bee species in the risk assessment for pesticides. This paper provides a short overview of the life history traits relevant in risk assessment of stingless bees. It summarizes what is known about stingless bee exposure to pesticides compared to that of honey bees and presents criteria for potential candidate species from Brazil for use in pesticide risk assessment in tropical environments. This paper also identifies gaps in knowledge of bee biology and pesticide exposure routes not covered by the current honey bee exposure assessment paradigm. Based on these gaps, research is needed on life history traits, estimates of nectar and pollen consumption, mud, resin, and water collection and available protocols to adequately assess toxic effects of pesticides to stingless bees. This review is part of a series of papers on the risk of exposure of non-Apis bees to pesticides.

Bee can be categorised as either honeybee or a stingless bee. Both produce honey, which is beneficial for human consumption because it is rich in nutrients. However, there is no study done on its quality affected by packaging materials during storage. This study evaluated the physicochemical properties of stingless bee honey (Heterotrigona itama) when stored in different packaging materials, clear and amber glass bottles, and clear and amber plastic bottles, stored at room temperature for three months. Honey was harvested from the pots to test its quality after some time. The physicochemical analyses were colour L*, a* and b*, pH value, total titratable acidity, antioxidant activity, ashes, moisture content and water activity. During three months of storage, none of the storage materials showed a significant difference from each other. If the honey storage is extended, honey stored in amber glass will give better quality at the end of the storage day due to the consistent parameter such as antioxidant activity, which is considered one of the valuable components in stingless bee honey.

The demand for natural products that promote sustainable production chains is growing worldwide. Honey, while not a staple for food security due to its limited nutritional contribution, represents a valuable resource to foster dietary diversity, responsible consumption, and forest conservation. Its production depends directly on access to diverse flora with low pesticide exposure and requires minimal soil transformation or external inputs, making it a low-impact practice. Beekeeping also contributes to the maintenance of pollinator populations, which are key for biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. Consumer interest in the origin and authenticity of honey has grown in recent years, especially for Apis mellifera products (Escuredo and Seijo 2024, Mascarello et al. 2024). Less known is the diversity and economic potential of stingless bees (Meliponini). Across tropical and neotropical regions, nearly 500 species have been described (Grüter 2020), many of which produce honey and act as key pollinators. In Colombia, about 34 species are reportedly used in meliponiculture (Nates-Parra and Rosso-Londoño 2013). This practice is expanding in rural areas, where it complements agriculture and is compatible with family-centered management. Traditional knowledge attributes medicinal properties to stingless bee products (Sgariglia et al. 2010, Rosales 2012). Although clinical validation remains limited, biochemical studies of their honeys have identified distinctive compositions rich in phenolic compounds and other bioactive molecules, providing preliminary evidence of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that warrant further research (Gomes et al. 2022). These properties are linked to microbial communities naturally present in stingless bee honeys. Fermentative yeasts and lactic acid bacteria shape these products, creating unique ecological niches with potential probiotic and bioactive value (da Silva et al. 2024). Microbial assessment is also essential to detect possible pathogens, as not all stingless bee species are recommended for meliponiculture: Trigona species, for example, may incorporate feces or dead animal tissue into nests, raising sanitary concerns (Gómez et al. 2023) Developing markets for stingless bee products requires robust methodologies for authentication and safety. We propose environmental DNA (eDNA) as a tool to address three dimensions of traceability and diversity assessment: Entomological origin of honey. Despite vast bee diversity, taxonomic expertise has declined, limiting our ability to monitor wild bees. DNA-based approaches, particularly metabarcoding, enable verification of the bee taxa involved in honey production—critical in regions with limited expertise. Challenges include primer selection for non- Apis bees, expanding reference databases, and training in molecular methods. Incorporating eDNA and metabarcoding into product traceability could democratize biodiversity monitoring and inform public policy. Botanical foraging spectrum. DNA from bee pollen and honey reveals floral visitation patterns, offering a proxy for ecosystem health. Progress is constrained by incomplete plant reference libraries. Diversity indices—borrowed from microbiome studies—can help characterize floral communities, though interpretation must account for variable foraging behavior across bee species. Microbial diversity and bioprospecting. Stingless bee honeys act as natural “filters,” concentrating microbial communities with industrial, probiotic, or antibiotic potential. Although generally safe, rigorous biosafety evaluation is needed to balance opportunities with risks. Reliable isolation and cultivation methods will be key to characterize diversity, establish reference libraries, and develop pipelines for future bioprospecting. Entomological origin of honey. Despite vast bee diversity, taxonomic expertise has declined, limiting our ability to monitor wild bees. DNA-based approaches, particularly metabarcoding, enable verification of the bee taxa involved in honey production—critical in regions with limited expertise. Challenges include primer selection for non- Apis bees, expanding reference databases, and training in molecular methods. Incorporating eDNA and metabarcoding into product traceability could democratize biodiversity monitoring and inform public policy. Botanical foraging spectrum. DNA from bee pollen and honey reveals floral visitation patterns, offering a proxy for ecosystem health. Progress is constrained by incomplete plant reference libraries. Diversity indices—borrowed from microbiome studies—can help characterize floral communities, though interpretation must account for variable foraging behavior across bee species. Microbial diversity and bioprospecting. Stingless bee honeys act as natural “filters,” concentrating microbial communities with industrial, probiotic, or antibiotic potential. Although generally safe, rigorous biosafety evaluation is needed to balance opportunities with risks. Reliable isolation and cultivation methods will be key to characterize diversity, establish reference libraries, and develop pipelines for future bioprospecting. Our pilot project, in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia, applies eDNA analyses to bees, honey, pollen, and associated microorganisms. The study focuses on three genera of stingless bees maintained in boxes derived from colonies collected in situ in the El Silencio nature reserve of Fundación Biodiversa Colombia, ensuring foraging in a pesticide-free environment with high floral diversity. As one of the first efforts to apply DNA-based tools to stingless bee biodiversity surveys and product authentication, this initiative highlights the need for stronger collaboration, standardized data frameworks, and investment to unlock the potential of eDNA for conservation and bioeconomic development.

Introduction: The increase of Type 2 diabetes mellitus has prompted numerous research toward finding an alternative to manage the disease through the oxidant-antioxidant balance, mainly through bioactive compounds in natural products. This study explored the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of phenolic-rich extract (PRE) from Stingless bee honey (SBH) (Heterotrigona itama) as therapeutic agent to restore the redox balance. Methods: The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant assays of PRE and SBH, were determined to provide preliminary insight into the sample’s antioxidant properties, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of PRE. The antidiabetic potential of PRE and SBH were determined based on their inhibition against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The cytotoxicity analysis of PRE was conducted on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 muscle cells before the glucose uptake and cellular antioxidant analyses were performed on both cell lines, respectively. Results: PRE yielded higher TPC, TFC and antioxidant activities than SBH. The phytochemical profile of PRE comprises gallic acid, myricetin, kaempferol, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, syringic acid, and cinnamic acid. The results from carbohydrate enzymatic inhibitory assays collectively suggested that PRE exhibited more robust antidiabetic activities than SBH. PRE showed good glucose uptake stimulating and reactive oxygen species scavenging effects in those cell lines. Conclusion: Overall, PRE from SBH showed higher carbohydrate enzymatic inhibition, glucose uptake, and protection against intracellular oxidative stress, primarily due to its high antioxidant content and may serve as an alternative therapeutic agent for managing T2DM.

Highly eusocial bees (honey bees and stingless bees) sustain their colonies through periods of resource scarcity by food stored within the nest. The protein supply necessary for successful brood production is ensured through adjustments of the colonies' pollen foraging according to the availability of this resource in the environment. In honey bees Apis mellifera, in addition, pollen foraging is regulated through the broods' demand for this resource. Here, we investigated the influence of the colony's pollen store level on pollen foraging and brood production in stingless bees (Melipona subnitida). When pollen was added to the nests, colonies increased their brood production and reduced their pollen foraging within 24h. On the other hand, when pollen reserves were removed, colonies significantly reduced their brood production. In strong contrast to A. mellifera; however, M. subnitida did not significantly increase its pollen foraging activity under poor pollen store conditions. This difference concerning the regulation of pollen foraging may be due to differences regarding the mechanism of brood provisioning. Honey bees progressively feed young larvae and, consequently, require a constant pollen supply. Stingless bees, by contrast, mass-provision their brood cells and temporary absence of pollen storage will not immediately result in substantial brood loss.