Impact of altitude and season on the nutritional profile of honey from various Apis species in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17381502Keywords:
Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, Apis florea, Apis dorsata , HoneyAbstract
The quality and composition of honey can be influenced by geographic location, altitude, honeybee species and season. Honey samples were collected from four areas of different altitudes viz., Bahawalpur (118 m), Kasur (218 m), Kallar Kahar (679 m), and Murree (2291 m) during all four seasons in Pakistan. The collected honey samples were subjected to proximate analysis to evaluate their nutritional composition including moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber and carbohydrate content. The results indicated that honey produced at higher altitudes (Murree) exhibited higher levels of protein, fat, fiber, and ash content, suggesting that environmental factors at these locations contribute to a richer nutrient profile. In terms of species, honey produced by Apis mellifera and Apis cerana shows higher fructose values as compared to Apis florea and Apis dorsata. The fructose content (30.45%) in summer was also highest compared to other seasons. However, other parameters such as protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrate values remained relatively stable across seasons. The study revealed that Apis mellifera and Apis cerana produced honey with higher fructose concentrations as compared to Apis florea and Apis dorsata. However, other nutritional components such as protein, fat, fiber, and ash content remained relatively stable across species, suggesting that these traits are more influenced by climatic conditions and geographic location rather than the species of the honeybee. Future studies should focus on the specific floral diversity and climatic conditions to have more refined methods of honey production, enhancing its nutritional and medicinal benefits.
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