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Magdas TM, David M, Hategan AR, Filip GA, Magdas DA. Geographical Origin Authentication-A Mandatory Step in the Efficient Involvement of Honey in Medical Treatment. Foods 2024; 13:532. [PMID: 38397509 PMCID: PMC10887874 DOI: 10.3390/foods13040532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, in people's perceptions, the return to roots in all aspects of life is an increasing temptation. This tendency has also been observed in the medical field, despite the availability of high-level medical services with many years of research, expertise, and trials. Equilibrium is found in the combination of the two tendencies through the inclusion of the scientific experience with the advantages and benefits provided by nature. It is well accepted that the nutritional and medicinal properties of honey are closely related to the botanical origin of the plants at the base of honey production. Despite this, people perceive honey as a natural and subsequently a simple product from a chemical point of view. In reality, honey is a very complex matrix containing more than 200 compounds having a high degree of compositional variability as function of its origin. Therefore, when discussing the nutritional and medicinal properties of honey, the importance of the geographical origin and its link to the honey's composition, due to potential emerging contaminants such as Rare Earth Elements (REEs), should also be considered. This work offers a critical view on the use of honey as a natural superfood, in a direct relationship with its botanical and geographical origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tudor Mihai Magdas
- Department of Anatomy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (T.M.M.); (G.A.F.)
| | - Maria David
- National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.D.); (A.R.H.)
| | - Ariana Raluca Hategan
- National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.D.); (A.R.H.)
| | - Gabriela Adriana Filip
- Department of Anatomy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (T.M.M.); (G.A.F.)
| | - Dana Alina Magdas
- National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.D.); (A.R.H.)
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Mara A, Migliorini M, Ciulu M, Chignola R, Egido C, Núñez O, Sentellas S, Saurina J, Caredda M, Deroma MA, Deidda S, Langasco I, Pilo MI, Spano N, Sanna G. Elemental Fingerprinting Combined with Machine Learning Techniques as a Powerful Tool for Geographical Discrimination of Honeys from Nearby Regions. Foods 2024; 13:243. [PMID: 38254544 PMCID: PMC10814624 DOI: 10.3390/foods13020243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Discrimination of honey based on geographical origin is a common fraudulent practice and is one of the most investigated topics in honey authentication. This research aims to discriminate honeys according to their geographical origin by combining elemental fingerprinting with machine-learning techniques. In particular, the main objective of this study is to distinguish the origin of unifloral and multifloral honeys produced in neighboring regions, such as Sardinia (Italy) and Spain. The elemental compositions of 247 honeys were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The origins of honey were differentiated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Random Forest (RF). Compared to LDA, RF demonstrated greater stability and better classification performance. The best classification was based on geographical origin, achieving 90% accuracy using Na, Mg, Mn, Sr, Zn, Ce, Nd, Eu, and Tb as predictors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mara
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.); (S.D.); (I.L.); (M.I.P.); (N.S.)
| | - Matteo Migliorini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy; (M.M.); (M.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Marco Ciulu
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy; (M.M.); (M.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Roberto Chignola
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy; (M.M.); (M.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Carla Egido
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.E.); (O.N.); (S.S.); (J.S.)
| | - Oscar Núñez
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.E.); (O.N.); (S.S.); (J.S.)
- Research Institute in Food Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Recinte Torribera, Av. Prat de la Riba 171, Edifici de Recerca (Gaudí), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 08921 Barcelona, Spain
- Serra Húnter Fellow, Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya, Via Laietana 2, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sònia Sentellas
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.E.); (O.N.); (S.S.); (J.S.)
- Research Institute in Food Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Recinte Torribera, Av. Prat de la Riba 171, Edifici de Recerca (Gaudí), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 08921 Barcelona, Spain
- Serra Húnter Fellow, Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya, Via Laietana 2, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Saurina
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (C.E.); (O.N.); (S.S.); (J.S.)
- Research Institute in Food Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona, Recinte Torribera, Av. Prat de la Riba 171, Edifici de Recerca (Gaudí), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 08921 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco Caredda
- Department of Animal Science, AGRIS Sardegna, Loc. Bonassai, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Mario A. Deroma
- Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Viale Italia, 39A, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Sara Deidda
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.); (S.D.); (I.L.); (M.I.P.); (N.S.)
| | - Ilaria Langasco
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.); (S.D.); (I.L.); (M.I.P.); (N.S.)
| | - Maria I. Pilo
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.); (S.D.); (I.L.); (M.I.P.); (N.S.)
| | - Nadia Spano
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.); (S.D.); (I.L.); (M.I.P.); (N.S.)
| | - Gavino Sanna
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.M.); (S.D.); (I.L.); (M.I.P.); (N.S.)
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