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. 2025 May 12;10(20):20550-20561.
doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c01134. eCollection 2025 May 27.

Influence of Chemical Profile on the Antioxidant Capacity of Brazilian Stingless Bee Honey

Lucas R de O Dias  1 , Bruna M Damm  1 , Bruno F Paqueli  1 , Bruno Q Araújo  1 , Gislane C Oliveira  2 , Diolina M Silva  2 , Eustaquio V R de Castro  1 , Rafael de Q Ferreira  1 , Álvaro C Neto  1
Affiliations

Influence of Chemical Profile on the Antioxidant Capacity of Brazilian Stingless Bee Honey

Lucas R de O Dias et al. ACS Omega. .

Abstract

Chemical compounds found in stingless bee honey (SBH) may impact their biological properties; therefore, the establishment of quality control and standardization protocol is essential. This study investigated the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of SBH produced by Melipona species from the Espírito Santo state (Brazil). A comprehensive characterization of SBH was conducted using Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics tools. A principal component analysis (PCA) model based on FT-MIR signals showed the separation betweenMelipona capixaba and Melipona quadrifasciata. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the more abundant classes of the classes were carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes, and alcohols. Moreover, the PCA model based on partial GC-MS chromatograms allows the grouping into M. capixaba and M. quadrifasciata. Simple phenols such as p-cresol and allyl guaiacol were also identified in SBH. In addition, total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) had selective correlations with total antioxidant capacity (TAC). A high Pearson correlation was observed between TPC and ceric reducing antioxidant capacity (CRAC), although there were low correlations among TAC values. Chemometrics combined with phenolics and antioxidant capacity are comprehensive approaches to determine the identity and quality of SBH.

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Figures

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(a) FT-MIR and (b) NMR spectra of stingless bee honey samples. vinfrared absorption frequencies (stretching or bending).
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PCA plot showing PC1 versus PC2 from FT-MIR data: (a) scores and (b) loadings plots.
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GC–MS TIC for selected M. quadrifasciata and M. capixaba stingless bee honey. TPC was expressed in mg GAE 100 g–1 of SBH. (21) 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid ethyl ester. (30) Acetic acid. (44) Hotrienol. (110) 3,5-Dimethoxybenzaldehyde.
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Box plot for chemical classes of M. quadrifasciata (red bar) and M. capixaba (blue bar) stingless bee honey.
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PCA plot showing PC1 versus PC2 from GC-MS data: (a) scores and (b) loadings plots. t R (min): 18.94 (pentanoic acid); 19.96 (α-terpineol); 20.90 (lilac alcohol); 23.61 (ethyl dihydrocinnamate); 23.78 (benzyl alcohol); 24.38 (phenethyl alcohol); 25.75 (4-methoxybenzaldehyde); 27.45 (n-dodecanol); 28.41 (3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde).
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Bar chart of (a) TPC and TFC, (b) DPPH, (c) FRAP, and (d) CRAC in SBH samples. Results are presented in mean ± standard deviation.
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Pearson correlation coefficients (r) for TPC, TFC, DPPH, FRAP, and CRAC values for the stingless bee honey data set.
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