Characterization of Botanical and Geographic Origins of Blackthorn (Paliurus spina‐christi Miller) Honeys From the Thrace Region of Türkiye

OpenAlex İngilizce

Blackthorn (Paliurus spina-christi Mill.), Thrace is a monofloral honey source. We characterized blackthorn honeys for botanical origin, physicochemical traits, antioxidant capacity, phenolic and amino acid profiles, volatiles, and minerals; flower extracts were also analyzed for markers. Melissopalynology identified 19/24 samples as monofloral (mean 81.6%). TPN10 averaged 53 411.87/10 g (normal quality). TPN10 correlated positively with diastase number (mean 21.11 DN; p < 0.05), aligning microscopic and chemical indicators. Total polyphenols (mean 637.65 mg GAE/kg), total flavonoids (10.18 mg QE/kg), and antioxidant capacity (FRAP 1.77 mg/mL; DPPH 16.06 mg/mL) were comparable to chestnut, pine, and oak honeys and reflected flower extract patterns. Phenolics (alloin A, abscisic acid, hesperidin, syringic acid) and amino acids (L-phenylalanine, L-tryptophan, L-asparagine) emerged as candidate biomarkers. Shared volatiles (benzoic and hexanoic acids, quinoline, 3-octanol) supported botanical linkage. Elemental means for Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, and Fe (29.84; 24.44; 1.72; 2128.35; 76.26; 2.08 mg/kg) confirmed mineral richness.