Page 178 - Pharmacognosy-II (06-PG 303)

Saccharine Derivatives
Honey

It is the saccharine liquid processed by the hive-bee (Apis mellifera L.) from
the nectar of plants or from secretions of living parts of plants which the bees collect,
transform by combining with specific substances of their own, deposit, dehydrate,
store and leave in the honey comb to ripen and mature.

Constituents:
Carbohydrates

Dextrose, levulose.
Sucrose.
Proteins and Amino acids:
- Honey contains a number of enzymes, including invertase, amylase; glucose
oxidase, catalase and acid phosphorylase.
- Honey also contains eighteen free amino acids, of which the most abundant is
proline.
Vitamins, Minerals and Antioxidants:
- Trace amounts of the B vitamins riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and
vitamin B6, ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
- Minerals: calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, selenium,
chromium and manganese.
- The main group of antioxidants in honey are the flavonoids, of which one,
pinocembrin, is unique to honey and bee propolis.

172