Minor constituents of multifloral honey of indigenous bee Apis florea and Apis cerana indica from different regions of Karnataka

Abstract

Variations in vitamins characteristics of multifloral honey of dwarf honey bee, A. florea (wild) and Indian hivebee, A. cerana indica (apiary) from different regions of Karnataka were elucidated and demonstrated. The studies indicate fluctuations in vitamin contents in plains, hills and Western Ghats of Karnataka. Six vitamins viz., thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), panthothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6) and ascorbic acid (C) were analyzed in honey of wild and apiary honeybees. B1 (0.07 µ gms) and B6 (1.80 µ gms) of A.florea honey was minimum and maximum from hills and Western Ghats respectively. Similarly A.cerana honey had lowest of B5 (0.08 µ gms) and highest of B6 (1.62 µ gms) from hills and Western Ghats respectively. B2 (0.12 µ gms - 0.20 µ gms), C (1.32 µ gms - 1.55 µ gms) and B3 (0.43 µ gms – 0.55 µ gms) of honey demonstrated variations in wild and apiary honeybees. The vitamin C and B6 of honey was significant at 1% (p