Sample stacking – Capillary electrophoretic determination of nitrate and nitrite contents as nitric oxide metabolites in honey varieties originated from Anatolia

Nitrate and nitrite ions taken from food are the sources of bioavailable nitric oxide (NO) in the nitrogen cycle. Some beneficial effects of honey on health are attributed to the ability of honey to increase NO production. The variation of nitrate and nitrite levels of honey samples collected from different Anatolia regions were clarified using capillary electrophoresis technique. The sensitivities of both anions were improved with the application of the sample stacking method. Separation buffer consisted of 30 mmol L^-1 formic acid and 30 mmol L^-1 sodium sulfate at a pH of 4.0. The CE technique revealed that 18 honey samples contained nitrate anion ranged between 2.53 and 31.8 mg kg^-1. Nitrite amounts were found in lower amounts in the honey samples as between non-detected and 0.533 mg kg^-1. The observed differences in nitrate levels between honey varieties may be a way to determine honey’s origin.