Physicochemical and palynological characterization of the onobrychis miller (fabaceae) honey

The purpose of this study was to contribute toward characterizing the general properties of the Onobrychis Miller (sainfoin) honey.We analyzed 21 samples of Onobrychis honeys, which were collected in 2013, from Northeast Anatolia according to their microscopic and physicochemical features (fructose/glucose (F/G) ratio, 5-(hydroxymethyl) furan-2-carbaldehyde (HMF) value, and volatile compounds). The relationships were examined between these variables with statistical methods such as principal component, regression, and correlation analyses. Statistical analyses revealed certain correlation patterns between several parameters. Onobrychis radiata (Desf.) M. Bieb., O. tournefortii (Willd.) Desv., O. oxyodonta Boiss. and Onobrychis spp. pollens were identified.TPN-10 ranged from 6532 to 481157 while the HMF values were between 0.1-7.5 mg/kg and F/G ratios were between 0.8-1.3. Alcohols, aldehydes, aliphatic acids and their esters, carboxylic acids and their esters, hydrocarbons, flavonoids, ketones, sugars and vitamins were identified in the honey samples within ranges of 0-11.95%, 0-16.76%, 0-24.72%, 0-1.86%, 0-14.71%, 2.74-7.09%, 0-27.02%, 5.12-51.39%, and 0-21.36%, respectively.Although it was not significant, a positive correlation between flavonoids and Onobrychis pollen number was calculated via correlation analysis. There was no meaningful correlation between Onobrychis pollen number and other parameters. Although a negative trend between flavonoids and sugars was observed, it was not significant. F/G ratio was found to be positively correlated with sugars, HMF, and TPN-10 of which the latter two parameters had significant values. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between TPN-10 and HMF was also detected.