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Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) honey (STH) has been used since ancient times as a folk medicine remedy, especially in certain Mediterranean countries. This honey, rich in phenolic content, is well recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, and is used for the treatment of skin lesions as well as gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. This study investigated whether STH alleviates genome damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes produced by the cytotoxic drug irinotecan. The phenolic profile of STH was previously estimated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a linear ion trap–Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer. The effects of STH were evaluated at three concentrations (1×, 5×, and 10×), based on the daily consumption of the honey by an adult person. After 2 h of in vitro exposure, standard lymphocyte cultures for the analysis of chromosome aberrations and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay were established. Our results demonstrate that STH offered remarkable geno- and cytoprotection when administered with irinotecan. These findings are relevant for drawing preliminary conclusions regarding the in vitro safety of the tested honey. However, further studies are needed with the application of more complex experimental models. Supplementary material: [https://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5875]

The confirmation of honey authenticity is an ongoing challenge. We investigated new authenticity markers (13 macro and trace elements, total phenolic (TP) content, antioxidant capacity) in 62 unifloral and multifloral honeys from Croatia as loadings for principal component analysis (PCA), taking into account the spatial, temporal and production practice variation and combining them with traditional tools for authentication of the botanical origin (melissopalynological, sensory and physicochemical analyses). PCA as a chemometric tool was compliant with basic statistical testing results (Mann- Whitney U test) figuring Ba and Mn, and also pointed to TP, antioxidant capacity parameters, Ca, K and Mg (PC1) as useful markers for discriminating chestnut honey from other unifloral and multifloral honeys. The first PC discerned deciduous honeydew honey sample fairly from nectar honey samples. Although some elements showed regional, seasonal and production practice differences, PCA was not able to discriminate between all groups clearly. Our nutritional assessment based on a calculation of the contribution to the Dietary Reference Value pinpointed deciduous honeydew honey, savory and chestnut honey with the highest daily mineral intake relevance among seven honey types.

Strawberry tree (Med obične planike (

The honey bee forage resources in the Neretva Valley enable production of unifloral Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) honey. Given the insufficient knowledge about this type of honey, the aim of this study was to establish its botanical origin (pollen spectrum), as well as physico-chemical and sensory properties. In total nine samples of Satsuma mandarin unifloral honey collected from Neretva Valley in the period from 2014 to 2015 were analysed. Floristic observations have recorded 78 plant species and the results of qualitative melissopalynological analysis revealed pollen originating from 50 plant species in analysed honey samples. The number of determined types of pollen in individual honey samples varied from 8 to 19 with an average of 13 pollen types. Proportion of Satsuma mandarin pollen ranged from 3 to 35% with average of 10.88%. The average water content in honey samples range from 17.1% to 17.3%, electrical conductivity from 0.22 mS/cm to 0.27 mS/cm, pH value from 3.82 to 4.02 and diastase activity from 7.78 to 9.36. The main sensory attributes of Satsuma mandarin were determined by sensory analysis: colour ranging from light to dark yellow, orange blossom odour with medium intensity, weak to medium taste persistence characterised by medium sweetness and poorly expressed acidity, and floral and fruity aroma. Due to almost monocultural orchards of Satsuma mandarin in the Neretva Valley, the possibility of producing this rare type of honey in this region should certainly be utilized., Na osnovu pašnih resursa u dolini Neretve značajnu proizvodnju uniflornog meda od unšijske mandarine (Citrus unshiu Marc.) omogućavaju površine pod navedenim agrumom. Međutim, zbog nedovoljnih saznanja o ovoj vrsti meda cilj je ovog istraživanja bio utvrditi njegovo botaničko podrijetlo te fizikalno-kemijska i senzorska svojstva. S navedenog je područja analizirano ukupno 9 uzoraka meda od unšijske mandarine prikupljenih u razdoblju od 2014. do 2015. godine. Florističkim je opažanjima zabilježeno 78 biljnih vrsta, a kvalitativnom je melisopalinološkom analizom u uzorcima meda utvrđena pelud 50 biljnih vrsta. Broj se utvrđene peludi po uzorku meda kretao od 8 do 19, a prosjek je bio 13. Udio peludnih zrnaca unšijske mandarine u istraživanim se uzorcima kretao od 3 do 35% s prosjekom od 10.88 %. Prosječni se udio vode u uzorcima meda kretao od 17.1 do 17.3%, električne provodnosti od 0.22 mS/cm do 0.27 mS/cm, pH vrijednosti od 3.82 do 4.02, dok se aktivnost dijastaze kretala od 7.78 do 9.36. Senzorskom je analizom utvrđeno da boja meda varira od svijetlo do tamno žute, miris meda je po parfemu narančina cvijeta i srednjeg je intenziteta, okus je slabo do srednje postojan sa srednje izraženom slatkoćom i slabo izraženom kiselošću, dok je aroma srednje postojana, cvjetna, odnosno voćna. Na osnovu gotovo monokulturnih nasada unšijske mandarine u dolini Neretve trebalo bi iskoristiti mogućnost proizvodnje ove raritetne vrste meda.

Quality and safety of food, including honey, is one of the leading priorities regarding residues of anthropogenic chemicals with proven adverse health effects. In total, 61 honey samples of known botanical origin were collected in period 2018–2019 from Croatian registered organic and conventional beekeepers (N = 16 organic and N = 45 conventional honey samples). Eleven trace metal(loid)s (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn; quantitated by ICP-MS), 24 antibiotics (LC-MS/MS, ELISA, microbiological inhibition test), six indicator PCBs (GC-MS/MS) and 121 pesticides (LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS) originating from environment and/or beekeeping practice were measured to assess possible differences in contaminant residues between organic and conventional honeys. All honey samples had contaminant residues below the legal maximum levels and are considered safe for consumers. However, 2/16 organic and 34/45 conventional honeys contained one or two synthetic acaricides (most frequently coumaphos), while other pesticides, antibiotics and PCBs were not quantified. Also, organic honey contained lower levels of coumaphos, amitraz and amitraz metabolite N-(2,4-dimethylphenyl) formamide than conventional honeys, on average. Higher levels of Cr (p = 0.006) were detected in organic compared to conventional chestnut honeys. This study pinpointed beehive disease control treatment as prominent pesticide residue source, which was to some extent reduced in organic honeys. Quantified pesticide and metal(loid) levels were within range or lower than reported in recent literature regarding honey of the same botanical origin.

SUMMARY The paper examines the antiproliferative, antimicrobial and antioxidative effects of fir (Abies alba Mill.) honeydew honey from mountain region of Croatia (Gorski kotar) as a potential replacement for standard antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. Cell viability, annexin V assay and flow cytometry analysis served to analyse the antiproliferative effect on, apoptosis induction in and cell death of cancer cell lines: HeLa, MCF-7, SW620, CFPAC-1, MIA PaCa-2 and normal diploid human fibroblasts (BJ). Antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus and Acinetobacter strains by agar well diffusion and microdilution assays. The DPPH˙ assay determined the radical scavenging activity, while mathematical models helped to evaluate the kinetic data of DPPH˙ inhibition. Antiproliferative effect on all tested cell lines and the prominent effect on normal diploid human fibroblasts (BJ), colorectal adenocarcinoma (SW620, metastatic) and breast epithelial adenocarcinoma (MCF-7, metastatic) was observable. The mechanisms of antiproliferative effect included accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase in all tested cells and induction of apoptosis in SW620 and MCF-7 cells predominantly. The antibacterial assays showed that antibiotic-resistant strains of both bacteria, including multi-resistant strain A. baumannii ATCC® BAA-1605™, were sensitive to all tested honey samples. Radical scavenging assay suggests that antioxidants present in the honey possess different radical suppressing abilities and that they react at different rates with radicals, thereby causing two steps of reaction. The results of the study indicate that Croatian fir honeydew honey has a therapeutic potential due to the strong biological activity and can serve to protect human health.

Although Satsuma mandarin secretes large amounts of nectar and is considered as excellent honey bee plant species, its anthers are either sterile or produce very small amount of pollen. Th erefore, honey bees collect pollen from other plant resources as well. Th e aim of this study was to determine the botanical origin of pollen loads collected with pollen trap during Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) honey bee forage, and to investigate relating foraging parameter (pollen collection time). Th e study was carried out on Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann, 1879) colony during April in 2014 and May 2015 in Neretva Valley, Croatia. Pollen of 12 plant species was identifi ed in analysed samples. Results have revealed that a total pollen mass was signifi cantly higher (p

U procesu nastanka meda uz kvalitetnu pasminu pčele, zatim čovjeka, koji će proizvod pripremiti za tržište, prirodni je potencijal određenog područja od velikog značaja. Sjeverozapadno-panonska i Sjeverno-jadranska podregija predstavljaju specifična područja obzirom na bagremove sastojine što se i ogleda u prepoznatljivosti bagremova meda. Područje Pretplaninske, Zapadno-panonske i Sjeverno-jadranske podregije prepoznato je po kestenovu medu, dok su sastojine lipe s područja Središnje i Zapadno-panonske podregije preduvjet proizvodnje reprezentativnog lipovog meda. Također, niti u jednoj od mediteranskih zemalja, ljekovita kadulja ne raste na tako velikim površinama u nativnoj flori, kao u našoj Jadranskoj poljoprivrednoj regiji. Osim meda od ljekovite kadulje u Jadranskoj je poljoprivrednoj regiji moguće proizvesti med od drače, vrijesa i vriska, te na ograničenim lokacijama med od mandarine, ružmarina i planike. Uz navedene nektarne vrste meda u Gorskoj je regiji pojedinih godina moguće proizvesti crnogorični medljikovac (medun) od jele i smreke. Na području zaštite autohtonih poljoprivrednih i prehrambenih proizvoda do sada su zaštićene dvije županijske marke meda („Bagremov med zagorskih brega“ i „Slatka nit“), a na prijelaznoj nacionalnoj razini zaštitom izvornosti zaštićen je „Slavonski med“. Također, u pripremi su i zaštite „Istarskog meda“, „Goranskog meduna“, „Dalmatinskog meda“ i „Zagorskog bagremovog meda“.

Elemental composition was analysed to determine the effect of the botanical and geographical origin on the mineral content in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), and lime (Tilia spp.) honey. Th e study included 174 samples from three different geographical and climatic regions in Croatia. A total of 15 elements were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Th e highest total mineral content was determined in chestnut honey samples, followed by the lime and black locust honey samples, in descending order of presence: K, Ca, Na, Mg, Mn and Fe. A good potential of marking the botanical origin was confirmed on the basis of increased contents of Mn and Sr in chestnut honey. Increased concentrations of Pb and Zn determined in honey samples from the Pannonian Region showed to be a good basis for demarcation of the geographical origin. The content of some heavy metals in honey were low (Median: Cd 0.005 mg/kg ; Pb 0.015 mg/kg ; Ni 0.083 mg/kg ; Zn 1.362 mg/kg ; with no harmful health eff ects).

The paper examines the antiproliferative, antimicrobial and antioxidative effects of fir (Abies alba Mill.) honeydew honey from mountain region of Croatia (Gorski kotar) as a potential replacement for standard antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. Cell viability, annexin V assay and flow cytometry analysis served to analyse the antiproliferative effect on, apoptosis induction in and cell death of cancer cell lines: HeLa, MCF-7, SW620, CFPAC- 1, MIA PaCa-2 and normal diploid human fibroblasts (BJ). Antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus and Acinetobacter strains by agar well diffusion and microdilution assays. The DPPH˙ assay determined the radical scavenging activity, while mathematical models helped to evaluate the kinetic data of DPPH˙ inhibition. Antiproliferative effect on all tested cell lines and the prominent effect on normal diploid human fibroblasts (BJ), colorectal adenocarcinoma (SW620, metastatic) and breast epithelial adenocarcinoma (MCF-7, metastatic) was observable. The mechanisms of antiproliferative effect included accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase in all tested cells and induction of apoptosis in SW620 and MCF-7 cells predominantly. The antibacterial assays showed that antibiotic-resistant strains of both bacteria, including multi-resistant strain A. baumannii ATCC® BAA- 1605™, were sensitive to all tested honey samples. Radical scavenging assay suggests that antioxidants present in the honey possess different radical suppressing abilities and that they react at different rates with radicals, thereby causing two steps of reaction. The results of the study indicate that Croatian fir honeydew honey has a therapeutic potential due to the strong biological activity and can serve to protect human health.

Pčelarska proizvodnja ima veliki ekonomski značaj koji se ogleda u proizvodnji meda, peluda, propolisa, matične mliječi, voska i pčelinjeg otrova. Osim izravne ekonomske koristi, neizravne su koristi kudikamo značajnije, jer se oprašivanjem samoniklog bilja utječe na očuvanje ekosustava, a oprašivanjem kultiviranog bilja pridonosi se povećanju prinosa i kvaliteti plodova. Tijekom pčelarske proizvodnje pčelari su izloženi raznim opasnostima, štetnostima i naporima. S obzirom da se u Republici Hrvatskoj samo 7,42 % pčelara profesionalno bavi pčelarstvom, ograničena je i primjena mjera utvrđenih Zakonom o zaštiti na radu. U ovom će radu biti prikazani svi najznačajniji poslovi u pčelarstvu i opasnosti koje se pri njihovom obavljanju pojavljuju, kao i mjere koje se poduzimaju zbog njihova smanjenja. Posebno će biti istaknuta potreba rada pčelara na siguran način, zatim upoznavanja s načinom rada na siguran način osposobljavanjem kod poslodavca i stručnim osposobljavanjem, do konkretnog rada na siguran način u obavljanju svakodnevnih poslova u pčelarskoj proizvodnji., Apiculture has great economic significance producing honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, wax and bee venom. In addition to its direct economic benefits, the indirect benefits are even more significant because pollination of wild plants helps preserve ecosystems, while pollination of cultivated plants increases crop yield and quality. During the process of apicultural production beekeepers are exposed to different kinds of danger, adversity and fatigue. Given that in the Republic of Croatia only 7.42% of beekeepers are professionally engaged in apiculture, application of measures established by the Occupational Safety Act is limited. This paper lists all significant beekeeping activities and dangers that arise during their performance and the proposed measures for reducing them. Particular emphasis is placed on the need to establish work safety in apiculture by introducing safety measures through employer-provided training and professional training, and by creating a safe environment for performing everyday beekeeping activities.

Experimental varroacidal treatments of honey bee colonies were conducted on five apiaries (EA1&ndash, EA5) situated at five different geographical and climatic locations across Croatia. The aim of this study was to assess the comparative efficacy of CheckMite+ (Bayer, Germany), Apiguard (Vita Europe Ltd., England), Bayvarol, C, (Bayer, Germany), Thymovar, (Andrma BioVet GmbH, Germany), and ApiLife Var, (Chemicals Laif SPA, Vigonza, Italy) for controlling the honey bee obligatory parasitic mite Varroa destructor in different conditions in the field during summer treatment. The relative varroa mite mortality after treatments with applied veterinary medicinal products were EA1 (59.24%), EA2 (47.31%), EA3 (36.75%), EA4 (48.33%), and EA5 (16.78%). Comparing the relative efficacy of applied varroacides, the best effect was achieved with CheckMite+, and the lowest for honey bee colonies treated with Apiguard (statistically significant difference was confirmed, p &lt, 0.05). Considering the lower efficacy of thymol-based veterinary medicinal products observed on all EA in these study conditions, it may be concluded that their use is limited under different treatment regimes. Despite unfavourable weather and environmental conditions, with exceptions of EA5/EA5&prime, and EA1, the relative varroacidal efficacy of authorized veterinary medicinal product treatments in moderately infested honey bee colonies ensured normal overwintering and colony development during next spring.

Samples of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) nectar, honey sac content and honey were analyzed by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and reference methods. The spectral analysis allowed detection of the major chemical constituents in C. unshiu nectar- to-honey transformation pathway thus providing information on the intensity and location of the compositional changes occurring during this process. The preliminary results showed that in average more than one-third of sugar-related nectar-to-honey conversion takes place directly in the honey sac ; the average sugar content (w/w) was 17.93% (nectar), 47.03% (honey sac) and 79.63% (honey). FTIR-ATR results showed great spectral similarity of analyzed honey samples and small degree variations in both sugar and water content in nectar samples. The spectral data revealed distinctive differences in the chemical composition of individual honey sac contents with the most intensive and complex absorption envelope in the spectral region between 1175 and 950 cm-1 (glucose, fructose and sucrose absorption bands).

Five honey types produced in Croatia (black locust, lime, sage, chestnut and honeydew honey) were characterised from the aspect of antioxidant capacity in order to evaluate possible application of antioxidant capacity as a criterion for botanical origin identification. Towards better understanding honey antioxidant capacity, relationship between antioxidant capacity and quality parameters (moisture, electrical conductivity, HMF content, colour, phenolic content) was evaluated using correlation coefficients and principal component analysis (PCA). Antioxidant capacity of analysed honey types varied significantly depending on the botanical origin. Highest antioxidant capacity was determined in dark honeydew and chestnut honey, followed by lime and sage honey while the lightest black locust honey had the lowest antioxidant capacity. Among evaluated parameters, antioxidant capacity showed highest correlation with phenolic content and colour, with correlation coefficients above 0.89 (p

Samples of unifloral sulla (Hedysarum coronarum L.) honey from Sardinia (Italy) were analysed. To investigate the chemical composition of the honey volatiles two solvent systems were used for ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE): 1) a 1:2 (v/v) pentane and diethyl ether mixture and 2) dichloromethane. All the extracts were analysed by GC and GC/MS. These procedures have permitted the identification of 56 compounds that include norisoprenoids, benzene derivatives, aliphatic compounds and Maillard reaction products. Norisoprenoids were the major compounds in both extracts, dominated by vomifoliol (5.3-11.2%; 9.6-14.0%) followed by minor percentages of other norisoprenoids such as α-isophorone, 4-ketoisophorone, 3-oxo-α-ionol or 3-oxo-α-ionone. Other abundant single compounds in the extracts were 3-hydroxy-4-phenylbutan-2-one (0.8-5.4%; 0.6-5.7%) and methyl syringate (3.0-5.7%; 2.2-4.1%). The composition of the volatiles and semi-volatiles in the obtained extracts suggests that sulla honey is quite distinctive relative to the other honeys that have been chemically studied by GC/MS, but no specific markers of the honey botanical origin were found.

The GC and GC/MS analyses of the solvent organic extractive from the stomach of the bees, having collected Mentha spp. nectar, revealed the presence of methyl syringate (6.6%), terpendiol I (5.0%) and vomifoliol (3.0%) that can be attributed to the plant origin. Other major compounds from the bee-stomach were related to the composition of cuticular waxes and less to pheromones. Organic extractives from Mentha spp. honey were obtained by solvent-free headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE) and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The major honey headspace compounds were hotrienol (31.1%–38.5%), 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (0.5–6.0%), cis- and trans-linalool oxides (0.9–2.8%), linalool (1.0–3.1%) and neroloxide (0.9–1.9%). Methyl syringate was the most abundant compound (38.3-56.2%) in the honey solvent extractives followed by vomifoliol (7.0–26.6%). Comparison of the honey organic extractives with the corresponding bee-stomach extractive indicated that methyl syringate and vomofoliol were transferred to the honey while terpendiol I was partially transformed to hotrienol in ripened honey.

Oxidant/antioxidant status, estrogenic/anti-estrogenic activity and gene expression profile were studied in mice fed with Cystus incanus L. (Cistaceae) reach bee pollen from location in Central Croatia’s Dalmatia coast and offshore islands. Seven phenolic compounds (out of 13 tested) in bee pollen sample were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Phenolics detected in C. incanus L. bee pollen belong to flavonol (pinocembrin), flavanols (quercetin, kaempferol, galangin, and isorhamnetin), flavones (chrysin) and phenylpropanoids (caffeic acid). Bee pollen as a food supplement (100 mg/kg bw mixed with commercial food pellets) compared to control (commercial food pellets) modulated antioxidant enzymes (AOE) in the mice liver, brain and lysate of erythrocytes and reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO). Bee pollen induced 25% of anti-estrogenic properties while no estrogenic activity was found. Differential gene expression profile analyses after bee pollen enriched diet identify underexpressed gene Hspa9a, Tnfsf6 (liver) and down-regulated gene expression of Casp 1 and Cc121c (brain) which are important in the apoptosis pathway and chemotaxis. These results indicate that used bee pollen possess a noticable source of compounds with health protective potential and antioxidant activity.

In this work specific pollen content, selected physicochemical parameters and flavonoid profile of 40 Croatian Robinia honeys from two production seasons were analysed. Results showed good compliance with national and international regulatory requirements, as well as with values typical for Robinia monofloral honey. All analysed samples showed same, typical flavonoid profile. Flavonoid content was different for two seasons, but rates of individual compounds remained unchanged. Higher concentrations of flavonoids were found in samples produced during dry season with high temperatures.

Six hundred thirty-two honey samples from Croatia were analyzed by reference methods (physicochemical and melissopalynological analyses), from which 506 were assigned to one of nine unifloral honey types (black locust, sweet chestnut, lime, sage, heath, mandarin, false indigo, immortelle and winter savory). Vibrational spectra of honey samples recorded using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection (ATR) technique were subjected to comprehensive chemometric assessment involving optimization of data preprocessing and multivariate statistical analyses, namely principal component analysis, partial least squares regression, partial least squares discriminant analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. A specially designed hybrid multidimensional model (partial least squares-linear discriminnat analysis) was used to assess a relationship between honey IR spectra and relative frequencies of pollen grains (pollen spectrum) present in selected honey samples. The study demonstrated that a targeted spectral profiling, i.e., preprocessing of a fingerprint spectral region (1, 800–700 cm−1) by particular Savitzky–Golay filtering parameters and ROC modelling approach, enables accurate classification (100 % correct classification) of unifloral honeys by their botanical origin with low misclassification risk (MR = 0.099) and negligible small number of misclassified samples (1–2 per class—honey type). The results have also revealed good predictive strength of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy for melissopalynologycal data.

Although beeswax adulteration represents one of the main beeswax quality issues, there are still no internationally standardised analytical methods for routine quality control. The objective of this study was to establish an analytical procedure suitable for routine detection of beeswax adulteration using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. For the purpose of this study, reference IR spectra of virgin beeswax, paraffin, and their mixtures containing different proportions of paraffin (5 - 95%), were obtained. Mixtures were used for the establishment of calibration curves. To determine the prediction strength of IR spectral data for the share of paraffin in mixtures, the Partial Least Squares Regression method was used. The same procedure was conducted on beeswax-beef tallow mixtures. The model was validated using comb foundation samples of an unknown chemical background which had been collected from the international market (n = 56). Selected physico-chemical parameters were determined for comparison purposes. Results revealed a strong predictive power (R2 = 0.999) of IR spectra for the paraffin and beef tallow share in beeswax. The results also revealed that the majority of the analysed samples (89%) were adulterated with paraffin; only 6 out of 56 (11%) samples were identified as virgin beeswax, 28% of the samples exhibited a higher level of paraffin adulteration (>46% of paraffin), while the majority of the analysed samples (50%) were found to be adulterated with 5 - 20% of paraffin. These results indicate an urgent need for routine beeswax authenticity control. In this study, we demonstrated that the analytical approach defining the standard curves for particular adulteration levels in beeswax, based on chemometric modelling of specific IR spectral region indicative for adulteration, enables reliable determination of the adulterant proportions in beeswax.

Delta rijeke Nerteve s gotovo monokulturnim nasadima mandarine (Citrus unshiu Marc.) područje je zanimljive medonosne pašu. Zbog nedovoljne istraženosti odlika, med od mandarine nije dovoljno poznat. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi fizikalno-kemijske parametre meda od mandarine radi njegove bolje karakterizacije. Istraživanje je provedeno na 25 uzoraka meda. Dobiveni rezultati pokazali su kako je u uzorcima meda srednja vrijednost udjela vode iznosila 16, 00 %, a električne provodnosti 0, 23 mS/cm. Srednja je vrijednost udjela fruktoze i glukoze (zbroj) iznosila 77, 33 %, a saharoze 1, 50 %. Prosječna slobodna kiselost iznosila je 15, 10 mEq/kg, a aktivnost dijastaze 10, 60 (DN). Dobiveni rezultati mogu poslužiti kao smjernice za pokretanje postupka dodjele oznake izvornosti neretvanskom medu od mandarine.

The objective of this study was to compare the colony development cycle (unsealed and sealed worker brood, drone brood, pollen and colony strength) of two Apis mellifera carnica subpopulations in two distinct environments (alpine and continental). At each test location were two sub groups of 12 colonies headed by naturally mated sister queens from either the Institute of Apiculture Lunz am See, Austria (AT) or from the Faculty of Agriculture University of Zagreb, Croatia (HR). Colony development was monitored every 14 days. The HR genotype, adapted to a continental climate, had faster spring brood development in both environments. During spring and early summer the AT genotype maintained the number of sealed brood cells at a constant level in the more favourable conditions, although the amount of unsealed brood reached its maximum in early June. The environment influenced colony development, food stores and colony strength. Interaction between genotype and environment did not affect the number of unsealed brood cells, but the difference was statistically significant for the number of sealed brood cells. The study indicated the presence of a number of genotype and environment interactions between the two honey bee genotypes and their colony traits.

Zadatak rada bio je odrediti fizikalno-kemijske parametre meda od vriska (Satureja montana L.) proizvedenog u jadranskom dijelu Republike Hrvatske. Uzorci meda prikupljeni su kroz nekoliko proizvodnih sezona, a uzorcima su određeni sljedeći fizikalno-kemijski parametri: udio vode, električna provodnost, pH vrijednost, slobodna kiselost, udio ugljikohidrata, aktivnost dijastaze i udio HMF-a. Rezultati električne provodnosti (0.155 - 0.456 mS/cm), slobodne kiselosti (16.1 - 35.8 mEq/kg) i aktivnosti dijastaze (16.3 - 45.8) kretali su se u velikom rasponu. Fruktoza/glukoza i glukoza/voda odnosi upućuju na umjerenu brzinu kristalizacije meda od vriska., The aim of this work was to determine physicochemical parameters of winter savory (Satureja montana L.) honey produced in the Adriatic part of Croatia. Honey samples were collected from several production seasons and following physicochemical parameters were determined: water content, electrical conductivity, pH value, free acidity, sugar content, diastase activity and HMF content. The results of electrical conductivity (0.155 - 0.456 mS/cm), free acidity (16.1 - 35.8 mEq/kg) and diastase activity (16.3 - 45.8) varied in a wide range. Fructose/glucose and glucose/water ratios indicate moderate crystallisation rate of the honey.

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE), followed by GC-MS/FID, were applied for monitoring the nectar (NE)/honey-sac (HoS)/honey (HO) pathways of the headspace, volatiles, and semi-volatiles. The major NE (4 varieties of Citrus unshiu) headspace compounds were linalool, -terpineol, 1H-indole, methyl anthranilate, and phenylacetonitrile. Corresponding extracts contained, among others, 1H-indole, methyl anthranilate, 1, 3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one and caffeine. The major HoS headspace compounds were linalool, -terpineol, 1, 8-cineole, 1H-indole, methyl anthranilate, and cis-jasmone. Characteristic compounds from HoS extract were caffeine, 1H-indole, 1, 3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one, methyl anthranilate, and phenylacetonitrile. However, HO headspace composition was significantly different in comparison to NE and HoS with respect to phenylacetaldehyde and linalool derivatives abundance that appeared as the consequence of the hive conditions and the bee enzyme activity. C. unshiu honey traceability is determined by chemical markers: phenylacetaldehyde, phenylacetonitrile, linalool and its derivatives, as well as 1H-indole, 1, 3- dihydro-2H-indol-2-one, and caffeine.

Gacka region and northern slopes of Velebit are typical mountain meadow honey areas. Bees pasture is relatively stable, almost evenly distributed throughout the season. The aim of the research is to determine the characteristics of honey in the Gacka region based on mellisopalinological and physicochemical analyses. In order to collect honey samples from Gacka region, honey competition was organized in 2008, 2009 and 2010. A total of 69 samples of honey were collected. Water content in the studied honey samples ranged from 14.60 to 18.20% with a mean value of 16.32%. Floral honey samples from 2009 and 2010 had a higher pH values (4.97, 4.83) compared to the samples from 2008 when the value was 4.68. In the investigated samples of floral and meadow honey the share of reducing sugars ranged from 55.31% in 2008 year to 77.02% in 2010. Honey types were separated on the basis of physicochemical parameters using Canonical discriminant analysis.

Riboflavin (vitamin B(2)) and its metabolite lumichrome were quantified in 117 samples from 11 unifloral honeys types (Arbutus unedo L., Asphodelus microcarpus Salzm. et Viv., Citrus spp., Eucalyptus spp., Hedysarum coronarium L., Castanea sativa L. honeydew, Mentha spp., Paliurus spina-christi., Salix spp., Salvia officinalis L., Satureja spp.). The quantification of these two compounds was performed by LC-DAD method which does not require sample purification. The proposed method in our study has low limits of detection and quantification, very good linearity in a large concentration range and very good precision. It allows simultaneous determination of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and known chemical biomarkers of unifloral honeys such as abscisic acid diastereomers, homogentisic acid, methyl syringate and kynurenic acid. No statistical correlation was observed between riboflavin and lumichrome content. Although, the concentration of vitamin B(2) in honey may be too low (

A Europe-Wide Experiment for Assessing the Impact of Genotype-Environment Interactions on the Vitality and Performance of Honey Bee Colonies: Experimental Design and Trait EvaluationAn international experiment to estimate the importance of genotype-environment interactions on vitality and performance of honey bees and on colony losses was run between July 2009 and March 2012. Altogether 621 bee colonies, involving 16 different genetic origins of European honey bees, were tested in 21 locations spread in 11 countries. The genetic strains belonged to the subspeciesA. m. carnica, A. m. ligustica, A. m. macedonica, A. m. mellifera, A. m. siciliana.At each location, the local strain of bees was tested together with at least two "foreign" origins, with a minimum starting number of 10 colonies per origin. The common test protocol for all the colonies took into account colony survival, bee population in spring, summer and autumn, honey production, pollen collection, swarming, gentleness, hygienic behaviour,Varroa destructorinfestation,Nosemaspp. infection and viruses. Data collection was performed according to uniform methods. No chemical treatments against Varroa or other diseases were applied during the experiment. This article describes the details of the experiment set-up and the work protocol.

The chemical composition and sensory characteristics vary significantly within different honey types. In order to determine botanical origin of honey, it is necessary to conduct rather complicated and time consuming analytical methods. IR spectroscopy has not yet been experimentally explored for honey analysis in Croatia, so the aim of this study was to determine claimed botanical origin of honey using both, standard and alternative (IR spectroscopy) methods, for the purpose of their comparison, Altogether 144 samples of nine different unifloral honey types (black locust, sweet chestnut, lime, sage, heath, rosemary, lavender, mandarin and strawberry tree) were collected from different Croatian regions directly from the beekeepers. In order to confirm claimed botanical origin of collected honey samples, melissopalinological analysis, moisture and electrical conductivity measurements were conducted. Infrared spectra of honey samples were recorded using the ABB Bomem MB102 Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR spectrometer). Selected IR spectral regions were analyzed by multivariate data analysis, principal components analysis (PCA). Preliminary PCA of IR spectra showed significant clustering of the analyzed samples by botanical origin. The results of this study showed that IR spectroscopy provides reliable results, but also represents rapid and cheap analytical tool in comparison to commonly used standard analytical methods. This research has also provided the first insight in infrared spectra of Croatian honeys.

Salix spp. honeydew honey volatiles were analyzed for the first time by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE) followed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC, GC-MS). The use of HS-SPME and USE had advantageous results over the use of one single technique, as it provided different complementary chromatographic profiles for a comprehensive screening of the honeydew volatile composition. The volatiles with different functionality, molecular weight, and polarity were extracted and identified. High percentages of benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid with minor percentages of 4-methoxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylethanol, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid from USE extracts can be emphasized as volatile biomarkers of this honeydew that probably originated from Salix spp., as well as methyl salicylate identified only by HS-SPME. The application of heat treatment at 80 degrees C for 2 h did not change significantly the volatile composition of this honeydew.

At this paper analysis of beekeeping conditions, number and distribution of beekeepers and honeybee colonies, annual colony losses as well as honey production, export, import and consumption are given. Beekeeping in Croatia has a long tradition. In comparison to pasture potential and necessity for pollination of cultivated and wild plants, present beekeeping is inadequately developed and distributed in different regions. According to data of the Croatian Livestock Center (2008) there are 313.978 honeybee colonies registered in the 2007 in Croatia on professional and sideline apiaries. The majority of honeybee colonies is placed in Pannonian region with 238.300 (76%), second in representation is in Mediterranean region with 59.763 (19%) and less represented is in Mountain region with 15.915 (5%) honeybee colonies . Yearly honey production is approximately 5.000 t and 2.000 t of national honey consumption (0, 4 kg per capita) gives possibility for honey export. Croatia exported 1.051 in 2003, but 274 t of honey in 2007, which indicates on significant export decreasing trend. Normal 10 % of winter colony losses till 2007 increased in 2007/2008 on 55.615 (41, 71 %) in Pannonian region, 13.892 (37, 46 %) in Mediterranean and 5.359 (32, 71 %) in Mountain region. There is a need to make beekeeping much more flexible to fit into an integrated agricultural system, as well as more oriented to the consumers’ demands, to be able to increase competitiveness.

The aim of this research was to determine physicochemical parameters and pollen spectrum of Christ’s thorn (Paliurus spina christi Mill.) honey. 15 samples of honey from three production seasons were analysed. Pollen spectrum indicated that all honey samples were unifloral, with Paliurus spina Christi pollen content of 46 – 92 %, while number of other botanical species varied in range from 5 to 16. Moisture, electrical conductivity, pH, free, lactone and total acidity, invertase and diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural and proline content and specific rotation were determined, as well as content of sugars. Physicochemical parameters showed that Chist’s thorn honey is characterized by high activity of enzymes diastase (25.39-50.51, mean 42.08) and especially invertase (164.9-299.7 U/kg, mean 245.5 U/ kg), high electrical conductivity (0.45-0.89 mS/cm, mean 0.68 mS/cm) and high proline content (346.4-667.1 mg/kg, mean 518.6 mg/kg)., Cilj rada bio je odrediti fizikalno-kemijska svojstva i sastav peludi meda drače (Paliurus spina Christi Mill.). Analizirano je 15 uzoraka meda proizvedenih u tri sezone. Peludna analiza je potvrdila da su svi uzorci monoflorni sa sadržajem peludi drače od 46 % do 92 %, dok je broj biljnih vrsta u uzorcima varirao od 5 do 16. Također, određen je udio vode, električna vodljivost, pH, slobodna, laktonska i ukupna kiselost, aktivnost invertaze i dijastaze, sadržaj hidroksimetilfurfurala i prolina, specifična rotacija, te sadržaj šećera. Fizikalno-kemijski parametri su ukazali da je dračin med karakterističan po visokoj aktivnosti enzima dijastaze (25.39-50.51, srednja vrijednost 42.08), te posebice invertaze (164.9-299.7 U/kg, srednja vrijednost 245.5 U/kg), visokoj električnoj vodljivosti (0.45-0.89 mS/cm, srednja vrijednost 0.68 mS/cm) i visokom sadržaju prolina (346.4-667.1 mg/kg, srednja vrijednost 518.6 mg/kg).

Za pravilan razvoj i opstanak pčelama je neophodno osigurati kontinuiranu i dostatnu opskrbu kvalitetnom vodom. Ima raznih vrsta pojilica kojima se koriste pčelari. Kako u praksi gotovo svaka od njih ima nedostataka (nedostatna zapremina, otežana kontinuirana opskrba vodom, nedovoljna higijena), razvijena je nova higijenska pojilica od nehrđajućeg lima. U uvjetima 6 izoliranih pokusnih pčelinjaka na otoku Unije praćena je djelotvornost novog modela higijenske pojilice glede kontinuirane opskrbe, higijenske ispravnosti i potrošnje vode. Tijekom cijelog trajanja pokusa snaga pčelinjih zajednica bila je ujednačena. U razdoblju od 26. srpnja do 29. rujna 2006. godine 83 zajednice su potrošile ukupno 374,10 litara vode. Prosječna potrošnja vode za promatrano razdoblje po zajednici bila je 5,19±2,88 litara vode. Prosječna dnevna potrošnja vode po zajednici iznosila je 0,12±0,07 litara vode., The bees must have continuous and adequate supply of good quality water for normal development and survival. In their work, the beekeepers use various water supply containers that usually have many disadvantages ( inadequate loading capacity, inconstant supply of water, unsatisfactory sanitary conditions). In order to study permanency, consumption and hygiene of water supply, a new model of hygienic water supply container has been constructed and applied in the experiment on the island of Unije. The trial took place from 26 July to 29 September 2006 and it included six isolated apiaries of equal strength of colonies. During that period, 83 beehives consumed 374,10 litters of water, the average water consumption per beehive being 5,19 ± 2,88 liters. The average daily water consumption per beehive was 0,12 ± 0,07 liters.

Goldenrod, native to North America was introduced into Europe in the 19th centuary as ornamental plant. However, this plant has become widespread and is a serious invader of abandoned fields, forest edges and river banks. Goldenrod represents an important source of nectar for honey bees, particularly as a reserve to help colonies survive the winter period. Although is insect pollinated plant, it shed much more pollen than is carried off by insects. The pollen may become atmospheric and can cause hay fewer during its pollination period in August.