Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXII, Issue 1
Written by Otilia BOBIS, Daniel Severus DEZMIREAN, Victorița BONTA, Adela MOISE, Claudia PASCA, Timea Erzsebet DOMOKOS, Adriana Cristina URCAN
Scientific studies show that the darker the honey, the higher its bio-active properties are. Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) is an invasive plant, growing shrub reaching heights of 3 m. Flowering occurs in late summer, when small, greenish-white flowers develop in long panicles in the axils of the leaves. Plants are dioeciously with flowers intensely visited by the bees, the honey obtained from nectar of this plant being a mild-flavored version of buckwheat honey; dark in color, appearing dark red when held to light. The present study aim to determine the chemical composition of Japanese knotweed honey and also their bioactive properties derived from the chemical composition. Different physicochemical, gravimetric, spectrophotometric and chromatographic determinations were used in the study. Analyzed honey samples are very good sources of minerals, especially K and Na (1187-6196 mg/kg K and 58.8-68.8 mg/kg Na). Also high amounts of Ca were determined. High amounts of total polyphenols and flavonoids were determined in Japanese knotweed honey samples, from several western places of Romania. This could reduce the impact that Fallopia japonica invasive plant have on the habitat, and if this plant is kept under observation and far from the inhabited areas, it could be highly valuable for beekeepers and honey production.
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