HONEY

  # HONEY

Synonyms: 

Madhu, mel, purified honey

Biological source: 

Honey is a sweet secretion stored in the honey comb by verious species of bee, such as Ap is mellifera, Ap is dorsata, Ap is florea, Apis indica and other species. 

Family :

Apideae

Order: Hymenotera

Geographical sources:

Honey is available in abundance in Africa, india, jamaica, Australia etc. 

Chemical Tests:

Adulteration in honey is determined by the following tests

1. Fiehel's Test for artificial invert sugar:

 Honey is sheken with petroleum or solvent ether for 5-10min.  The upper ether layer is seperated and evaporated in chaina dish. On addition 1% solution os resorcinol in hydrocloric acid a transient red colour is formed in  natural honey while in artificial honey the colour persist for sometime

Limit test: 

The limit test of chloride, sulphate, and ash 0.5 are compared with the pharmacopoeial specification. 

Used: 

1. It used as mild laxative, bactericidal, sedative

2. Antiseptic and alkaline character. 

3. It is used for cold, cough, fever, sore, eye and throat, tongue and duodenal ulcer, liver disorders ,constipation, diarrhoea, 

4. It used as on the disease scurvy and insomnia. 

5. It is applied as remedy on open wound after surgery. 

6. It prevent infection and promote healing, and skin inflammation. 

7. Honey mix with onion juice, is a good remedy for arteriosclerosis in brain. 

 # Honey

Reference : textbook of pharmacognosy &phytochemistry, part -f pg- 166