Global assessment of Algerian honeys quality by palynological, physicochemical analyses, trace elements and potentially toxic elements screenin | Celokupna ocena kakovosti alžirskih medov s palinološkimi in fizikalno-kemijskimi analizami ter pregledom vsebnosti elementov v sledeh in potencialno strupenih elementov

anglais. The quality of twenty Algerian honeys was assessed based on their palynological and physicochemical properties, and their trace and toxic elements composition. A qualitative pollen analysis was conducted to estimate the botanical origin. The physicochemical analyses included moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), colour, and the content of 3 sugars (fructose, glucose, and sucrose). The analysis of mineral and heavy metals included Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd, and As. The pollen spectrum showed a great diversity with 60 taxa identified. The palynological analyses revealed the presence of 15 honeys with pollen dominance (unifloral): Citrus sp., Eucalyptus sp., Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam., Sinapis arvensis L., Dorycnium sp., Bupleurum sp., Echium sp., Lotus sp., and 5 honeys without pollen dominance (polyfloral). The physicochemical results showed that the samples conform to international quality standards, with few exceptions related to HMF, mainly due to beekeeping practices. The colour was from water white to dark amber. Pb and Cd concentrations were found to be below the maximum residue limits set by the European Directive with which the toxic elements were compared. These results would contribute to the assessment of Algerian honey and provide a database for the regulation of honey trade and consumer protection.

slovène. Sestava in kakovost dvajsetih vzorcev alžirskega medu sta bili ocenjeni na osnovi palinoloških in kemijsko-fizikalnih analiz ter vsebnosti elementov sledeh in potencialno strupenih elementov. Kvalitativna analiza peloda v medu je bila narejena z namenom ugotoviti njegovo botanično poreklo. Fizikalno kemijske analize so obsegale določanje vsebnosti vode, pH, električno prevodnost, vsebnost HMF (hidroksimetilfurfural), barve in vsebnost treh sladkorjev (fruktoze, glukoze in saharoze). Analiza elementov in težkih kovin je obsegala analizo vsebnosti Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd in As. Pelodni spekter je pokazal veliko raznolikost s šestdesetimi ugotovljenimi taksoni. Pri petnajstih vzorcih medu je bila ugotovljena dominanca posameznih rastlinskih vrst oziroma rodov (unifloralni med) kot so: Citrus sp., Eucalyptus sp., Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam., Sinapis arvensis L., Dorycnium sp., Bupleurum sp., Echium sp.in Lotus sp., pri petih vzorcih dominance posameznih vrst ni bilo (polifloralni med). Fizikalno-kemijske anlize so pokazale, da vzorci medu ustrezajo mednarodnim standardom kakovosti, z nekaj izjemami, ki se nanašajo na HMF, v glavnem zaradi razlik v čebelarjenju. Barva medu je bila od prozorne do jantrne. Vsebnosti Pb in Cd so bile znantno pod maksimalnimi vrednostmi, ki jih predpisuje Evropska direktiva o vsebnosti strupenih elementov v medu. Rezultati te raziskave prispevajo k oceni alžirskega medu in dajejo osnovne podatke za trgovanje z medom in zaščito potrošnikov.