A Development of a Competitive ELISA for the Evaluation of Sunflower Pollen in Honey Samples

BARONI VERONICA,; CHIABRANDO, GUSTAVO A; COSTA CRISTINA,; WUNDERLIN DANIEL,

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY

ACS Publications

Año: 2004 vol. 52 p. 7222 - 7222

0021-8561

e report the development of a rapid, specific, and sensitive enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA)for the evaluation of sunflower pollen in honey as a method alternative to melissopalynology, which is considered the standard technique for the evaluation of floral origin of honey. Two 33-36 kDa proteins, identified as characteristic of sunflower pollen, were isolated and used as coating antigens in the competitive ELISA. We verified its analytical performance by evaluating reproducibility, specificity,and exactitude in relation to melissopalynology. The competitive ELISA developed during this work is able to quantify sunflower pollen in honey, with a detection limit of 10%, showing linear response between 10 and 90%. The method afforded low cross reactivity with honey from other floral origin, thus evidencing an adequate selectivity. We also observed a significant correlation ( r) 0.975; p< 0.001) when the proposed ELISA was referenced to melissopalynology. Hence, we conclude that the c