NATIVE BEE HONEY AS A PHYTOTHERAPIC AND/OR FOOD PRODUCT IN THE REGION OF CARIBRI PARAIBANO, BRAZIL

Authors

  • Flávia Janaina de Araújo Silva Universidade Estadual do Piauí
  • Taíza Nunes dos Santos Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Kilmer Oliveira Soares Universidade Federal da Paraíba
  • Marcos Vinícius Lopes Universidade Federal do Piauí
  • Jaildo Ribeiro Barbosa Universidade Federal do Piauí

Keywords:

Honey, Food, Herbal medicine, Native bees

Abstract

The honey of native bees is known as a natural food that presents phytotherapic properties very well known by folk medicine due to its bactericidal properties, antiseptic, expectorants, antrheumatic, antioxidants, laxative and other. For this reason, most people use honey of stingless bees (ASF) only for therapeutic purpose, and not in function of their nutritional attributes. In addition to the medicinal properties, the ASF honey also has: organic acids, flavonoids, hormones, enzymes, water, minerals, vitamins, glucose, fructose and sucrose, that is, it is a rich energetic food source. Anyway, honey is important for both health and food! In addition, despite all these benefits, the consumption of honey per inhabitant in Brazil is still very low. This study aimed to analyze the perception of consumers regarding the purpose of the use of ASF honey, either in the food, medicinal or both forms. Data collection took place on August 10, 2019 based on the completion of a small questionnaire, which was applied to the target audience of 20 people in the free market of Sumé – Paraíba state, Brazil. During the interview, the objectives of the study were explained to the interviewees of whom seventeen were men and five women, consumers of ASF honey, in an age range ranging from 15 to 54 years. Of the interviewees, 13 people reported using honey only in the treatment of diseases; two use in feed; and five affirmed to use honey both therapeutically and in food. According to the interviewees, the most used honey is the Partamona cupira species that acts mainly in the healing of throat and flu infections. With these results, it is concluded that most of the interviewees believe that ASF honey has no other purpose besides the use for medicinal purposes.

Author Biography

Flávia Janaina de Araújo Silva, Universidade Estadual do Piauí

Mestre em Ciências Agrárias (2016) e Engenheira Agrônoma (2014), pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Desenvolve pesquisas relacionadas ao manejo sustentável de espécies vegetais e abelhas nativas. Atuou como agrônoma na COONAP (Cooperativa de Trabalho Múltiplo de Apoio às Organizações de Auto Promoção) e na Agrocamp serviços e consultoria. Atualmente é professora substituta no curso de agronomia da Universidade Estadual do Piauí, Campus de Uruçuí.

Published

2019-10-30

How to Cite

Silva, F. J. de A., Santos, T. N. dos, Soares, K. O., Lopes, M. V., & Barbosa, J. R. (2019). NATIVE BEE HONEY AS A PHYTOTHERAPIC AND/OR FOOD PRODUCT IN THE REGION OF CARIBRI PARAIBANO, BRAZIL. Caderno Verde De Agroecologia E Desenvolvimento Sustentável, 9(1), 17. Retrieved from https://gvaa.com.br/revista/index.php/CVADS/article/view/6917

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