The Contents of some Macro and Trace Elements in Uniflora and Multiflora Honey Samples Collected from Three Regions in East Libya

Honey is used for nutritional, therapeutic and manufacturing purposes and it is a significant product in the global market. Honey is defending as a natural indicator of floral biodiversity and environmental quality. In this study, the levels of some macro and trace elements (main mineral contents) including numbers of heavy metalswere evaluated in honey samples from beekeepers in three different regions in east Libya including Benghazi, Maraj and Ajdabiya, during 2018.These samples include; uniflora and multiflora honey. The levels of ten elements were measured; sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), potassium (K),magnesium (Mg), zinc(Zn), iron(Fe), copper (Cu), aluminium (Al) and toxic elements; such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).The results showed, the ranges of macro minerals, Na, Ca, K and Mg varied from 10.93-32.30,39.14-298.5, 176.24-734.28 and 12.62-55.26mg/kg, respectively, and the ranges of trace and toxic elements, Zn, Fe, Cu, Al, Cd and Pb varied from 0.428-2.508, 0.248-0.720, 0.021-0.610, 0.009-0.0423, 0-0.011 and0-0.009 mg/kg, respectively. Also, the concentration of all elements was statistically significant difference within all samples (P<0.05), except Zn. The levels of macro and trace elements in the selected Libyan honey samples were variable, while Cd and Pb elements were detected in few honey samples and not detected in the rest. This study reveals that Libyan honeys were of high quality, rich in minerals and safe with trace elements present within permissible limits of the Libyan Standard Legislation.