Pollen Characterization and Physicochemical Analysis of Six Nigerian Honey Samples; Test for Authenticity

Honey is a popular product consumed for its health benefits. It is an effective antimicrobial an
antioxidant agent. Globally, palynological and chemical methods are among the means of
authenticating honey quality, geographical origin and floral origin. Six honey samples from six
Nigerian towns (Abi, Ikom, Lokpanta, Nsukka, Okigwe and Shaki) were subjected to the
aforementioned tests. Eighty-six pollen taxa were recorded in all the samples. The richest sample
with seventy-three taxa was from Nsukka, followed successively by Okigwe, Lokpanta, Shaki,
Ikom and Abi samples with sixty-eight, sixty-seven, sixty-two, fifty-nine and fifty-seven pollen
species respectively. The oil palm Elaeis guineensis pollen dominated the samples in different
proportions except Shaki honey dominated by Acacia spp., The commonest plant family was
Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, Papilionideae) with twenty-one taxa followed by
Euphorbiaceae, Combretaceae, with four representatives and Rubiaceae with three taxa each. The
physico-chemical analysis carried out were total moisture, total ash content, colour assessment,
percentage of total solids, relative density, acidity, and Fischer’s Test. The samples were found to
concur with the international standards for honey.