Determination of B-group vitamins in Turkish honey using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

ABSTRACT

A rapid and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method with electrospray ionization (UPLC–ESI–MS/MS) for analysis of B-group vitamins in honey has been presented. Aim of this study is the characterization of different types of Turkish honeys according to B-group vitamins. Vitamins were determined in 17 different types of Turkish honey samples by UPLC–ESI–MS/MS. Heather honey samples were distinguished among the studied honeys with the richest vitamin content with 286.10 mg/kg, and it is followed by sunflower honey and thyme honey with the total vitamin contents of 206.01 and 163.27 mg/kg, respectively. The presence of vitamin B₁ (thiamine), vitamin B₂ (riboflavin), vitamin B₃ (nicotinamide, B₃N and nicotinic acid, B₃H), vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine), and vitamin B₉ (folic acid) was detected in all the honey samples analyzed. Moreover, vitamin B₅ (pantothenic acid) was observed in most of them. Vitamin B₁₂ (cyanocobalamin) and vitamin B₇ (biotine) were not detected in the studied honey samples. Turkish honey samples showed efficacious vitamin content for the consumers.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Heather honey
• honey
• nicotinamide
• thiamine
• UPLC–ESI–MS/MS
• vitamin B₂