Free Amino Acid Profiles of 17 Turkish Unifloral Honeys

Abstract

Free amino acids of 58 unifloral honeys of 17 different floras (cedar, eucalyptus, vitex, carob, clover, honeydew, sunflower, citrus, heather, thyme, flower, chestnut, sideritis, acacia, lavender, cotton, and mad honeys) from various regions across Turkey were analyzed using ultra performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). A method for the determination of free amino acids in honeys was developed and validated. The method comprises sample preparation involving ultrasonic extraction and separation, identification, confirmation, and quantitation. The obtained data have been inquired by principal components analysis (PCA), allowing differentiation of studied honeys by their floral origins. The main amino acids detected in Turkish honeys were phenylalanine (4024.53mg/kg), proline (1138.18mg/kg), tyrosine (693.42mg/kg), and isoleucine (749.81mg/kg). Thus, the honeys consist of rich free amino acids, and can be accordingly consumed as not only traditional sweeteners, but also supplementary materials for food products especially for foods for children. This method may be used for the determination of individual free amino acids in honeys.