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Ponte Academic Journal
Jan 2018, Volume 74, Issue 1

VITAMIN C CONCENTRATION IN ACACIA AND ZIZIPHUS HONEY SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT ALTITUDES IN ASIR REGION AT THE SOUTH WESTERN PART OF SAUDI ARABIA

Author(s): Mohammed Elimam Ahamed Mohammed ,Amal Ahmed Ali AlMusa, Eid Ibrahim Brima

J. Ponte - Jan 2018 - Volume 74 - Issue 1
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2018.1.31



Abstract:
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of altitude and floral origin on the concentration of vitamin C in honey samples from Asir region at the south western part of Saudi Arabia. Ten samples of Acacia tortilis honey (Smar) and Ten samples of ziziphus spina christi (Sidr) honey were collected from three different altitudes. Standard methods were followed to measure the pH, moisture, conductivity and vitamin C concentration. Pollen analysis was done to confirm the floral origin of the honey samples. The honey samples were original since the pH, moisture and conductivity were within the ranges of the CODEX, gulf countries or USA national honey board standards. The pollen analysis showed that the honey samples contained pollens from the Acacia and the ziziphus plants. The range and the mean of vitamin C concentration in the Acacia honey samples were (181.4- 352.2 mg/ 100g) and 233.38 respectively. The results of the Ziziphus honey samples showed the range of 88- 362.8 mg/ 100g and the mean of 239.56 mg/ 100g. When the means of vitamin C in the different altitudes were compared, it was clear that the altitude caused an insignificant increase in the mean concentration of vitamin C of the Acacia and Ziziphus honey samples (p- value= 0.069 and p- value= 0.101 respectively ). The Acacia and Ziziphus honey from high altitude areas in Asir region are characterized by high concentration of vitamin C compared to most of the previously registered concentrations from different regions in the world.
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