Identification of the Floral Origin of Honey by Amino Acids Composition

A study was performed to find a correlation criterion between the amino acid composition and the botanical origin, in order to classify honey. The amino acids analyzer was used to determine the amino acids of honey samples from five different single botanical origins. Aspartic acid, phenylalanine, glutamic acid and proline were predominant ones, but not unique for honey types. Cystine was not detected in Acacias and Azadirachta honey. For all honey types the reset of amino acids determined, differed among them. Principle component analysis (PCA) was applied to data for pattern recognition. Discriminant function analysis was applied to four selected amino acids (Asp, Glu, His, and Phe) based on the result of PCA. Five groups of honey are shown in Dendrogram using cluster analysis. Discriminant function analysis showed high correct classification rate (93.33%). Ziziphus, Helianthus, Acacia seyal and Azadirachta honeys were 100% correctly classified and Acacia nilotica honey was 66.67% correctly classified