African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (7), pp. 908-913, 2 April 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of honey from the sudano-guinean zone of West Cameroon

Tchoumboue Joseph¹, Awah-Ndukum Julius^1*, Fonteh Florence A¹, Dongock N Delphine², Pinta Jonnas² and Mvondo Ze Antoine³

¹Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences,Department of Animal Science  University of Dschang, Cameroon.

²Faculty of Science,Department of Plant Biology,University of Dschang, Cameroon.

³Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, Soil Science Laboratory, University of Dschang, Cameroon.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: awahndukum@hotmail.com or awahndukum@yahoo.co.uk

Accepted 9 November, 2006

The physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of honey from the sudano-guinean zone of West Cameroon were determined. The indices obtained were within their respective ranges recorded for honey in temperate countries, except for calcium content whose value was on the upper side of its reference range. A bacterial type and eight fungi species contamination were found to have contaminated the honey from the local markets. However, there were no microbes present in honey harvested from the Bee Research Farm of the University of Dschang. This indicated contamination from secondary sources, during handling and or adulterations of honey from our local markets. Honey used in this study showed medium crystallisation tendency and granulation was faster when stored under dark than light at similar conditions. The mixed floral or nectar sources, fluctuating environmental conditions and processing procedures played major roles in the physico-chemical differences observed between the local and temperate honeys.

Key words: Honey, physico-chemical properties, microbial contamination, crystallisation, West Cameroon.