Enzymatic roles in nectar-to-honey transformation by the Indian honey bee, Apis cerana Fabricius.

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Title: Enzymatic roles in nectar-to-honey transformation by the Indian honey bee, Apis cerana Fabricius.
Authors: V. S, Harithasree1 (AUTHOR), V, Vijayasree2 (AUTHOR) vijayasree.v@kau.in
Source: Biocatalysis & Biotransformation. Jun2026, Vol. 44 Issue 3, p219-226. 8p.
Subjects: Invertase, Glucose oxidase, Catalytic activity, Amylases, Honey composition, Catalase, Apis cerana
Abstract: Enzymatic components from both bee secretions and floral sources are crucial for nectar-to-honey transformation, significantly influencing each stage of honey maturation and contributing to the complex biochemical reactions that underpin honey's unique therapeutic properties. This study investigated variations in diastase, invertase, glucose oxidase, and catalase activities during honey formation in the Indian Honey Bee (Apis cerana Fabricius) fed on nectar from Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Poir.) and Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell-Arg.). It was found that diastase and invertase, primarily derived from bee secretions, reached peak activity in the honey stomach (43.82 DN and 56.72 IN), where complex sugars are converted into simpler, energy-rich forms. Another bee-derived enzyme, glucose oxidase, showed high activity in early stages, while plant-derived catalase varied with nectar source and composition; together, these enzymes contribute to honey's antimicrobial properties. Correlation analysis revealed positive links between diastase and invertase (r = 0.98), and glucose oxidase and catalase (r = 0.42) in both pumpkin and rubber honey, highlighting a synergistic biochemical interaction that defines honey's exceptional characteristics. Findings indicate that diastase, invertase, and glucose oxidase are endogenous products of the bee's hypopharyngeal and post-cerebral glands, in contrast to catalase, which is an exogenous enzyme of floral origin. These insights into enzyme origin and phase-specific activity deepen our understanding of honey's biochemical transformation, providing a foundation for enhanced quality control and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Biocatalysis & Biotransformation is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Enzymatic roles in nectar-to-honey transformation by the Indian honey bee, Apis cerana Fabricius.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22V%2E+S%2C+Harithasree%22">V. S, Harithasree</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22V%2C+Vijayasree%22">V, Vijayasree</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> vijayasree.v@kau.in</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Biocatalysis+%26+Biotransformation%22">Biocatalysis & Biotransformation</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 44 Issue 3, p219-226. 8p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Invertase%22">Invertase</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Glucose+oxidase%22">Glucose oxidase</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Catalytic+activity%22">Catalytic activity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Amylases%22">Amylases</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Honey+composition%22">Honey composition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Catalase%22">Catalase</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Apis+cerana%22">Apis cerana</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Enzymatic components from both bee secretions and floral sources are crucial for nectar-to-honey transformation, significantly influencing each stage of honey maturation and contributing to the complex biochemical reactions that underpin honey's unique therapeutic properties. This study investigated variations in diastase, invertase, glucose oxidase, and catalase activities during honey formation in the Indian Honey Bee (Apis cerana Fabricius) fed on nectar from Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Poir.) and Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell-Arg.). It was found that diastase and invertase, primarily derived from bee secretions, reached peak activity in the honey stomach (43.82 DN and 56.72 IN), where complex sugars are converted into simpler, energy-rich forms. Another bee-derived enzyme, glucose oxidase, showed high activity in early stages, while plant-derived catalase varied with nectar source and composition; together, these enzymes contribute to honey's antimicrobial properties. Correlation analysis revealed positive links between diastase and invertase (r = 0.98), and glucose oxidase and catalase (r = 0.42) in both pumpkin and rubber honey, highlighting a synergistic biochemical interaction that defines honey's exceptional characteristics. Findings indicate that diastase, invertase, and glucose oxidase are endogenous products of the bee's hypopharyngeal and post-cerebral glands, in contrast to catalase, which is an exogenous enzyme of floral origin. These insights into enzyme origin and phase-specific activity deepen our understanding of honey's biochemical transformation, providing a foundation for enhanced quality control and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Biocatalysis & Biotransformation is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/10242422.2026.2654542
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 8
        StartPage: 219
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Invertase
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Glucose oxidase
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Catalytic activity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Amylases
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Honey composition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Catalase
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Apis cerana
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Enzymatic roles in nectar-to-honey transformation by the Indian honey bee, Apis cerana Fabricius.
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          Name:
            NameFull: V. S, Harithasree
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            NameFull: V, Vijayasree
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 44
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