PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY, BOTANICAL ORIGIN AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF FLORAL HONEYS FROM CAMPOS GERAIS REGION, BRAZIL/CALIDAD FÍSICO-QUÍMICA, ORIGEN BOTÁNICO Y PROPIEDADES ANTIOXIDANTES DE MIELES FLORALES DE LA REGIÓN DE CAMPOS GERAIS, BRASIL

The aim of this study was to analyze the physicochemical quality, botanical origin and antioxidant activity of Brazilian commercial honeys labeled as monofloral. Thirteen honey samples of Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) were provided by beekeepers from Campos Gerais region of Parana State, Southern Brazil. Most of the samples showed physicochemical results, in accordance with the International and Brazilian legal requirements. Regarding pollen analysis, samples were classified as unifloral, bifloral and heterofloral honeys. For some honey samples, divergence between the label data and the results of melissopalynological analysis was observed. A high correlation coefficient between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was observed.