Multi-Element Profile Characterization in Monofloral Honey ^†

Apiculture, in general, is an important sector of the national economy due to the environmental benefits of pollination. Honey is the main product of apiculture and is regarded as a product with health-promoting properties; it is therefore often used for medical purposes [1]. The high demand for honey raises concerns about the honey quality available in the market because of the possible presence of counterfeited or fraudulent products, thereby highlighting the need for modern instrumental analysis. Monofloral honey is gathered from the majority of single floral sources, thus leading to a unique taste, and organoleptic or visual properties, which consumers might find more attractive than regular polyfloral honey. Determining the macro and trace element profile of these honeys is valuable, serving a purpose to consumers, manufacturers, and researchers. In this study, 83 honey samples of different floral origins were used, and the floral origins were confirmed via melissopalynology analysis. The macro and trace element profile of the honey was determined using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results were processed using chemometric methods, including principal component analysis (PCA) and a dendrogram of hierarchical clustering. Significant differences were determined using one-way ANOVA analysis and Fisher’s test. In total, 30 different elements were found in natural honey of Latvian origins, and the potential use of 18 of them as floral markers for buckwheat, clover, heather, linden, rapeseed and willow honey was determined. Heather honey showed the most diverse element profile, with increased concentrations of As, Ba, Ca, Cs, Fe, K, Mn, Rb and Tl. Compared to other studies, the preliminary results of the ICP-MS show one of the most versatile evaluations of floral origin [2]. The preliminary results regarding macro and trace elements show their potential use as biomarkers for the evaluation of honey floral origin and the evaluation of concentrations of elements harmful to health.